A Berkean Dilemma

By Kleinheider Posted on January 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Vibinc surveys the political landscape with an eye towards state Senator Andy Berke’s next move:

If any of these big name people (Davis or Ford) jump in, Berke probably doesn’t have a chance. If they don’t, it’s 50-50 at best. Berke doesn’t really have anything to lose, but money, should unknowns dominate the field. Berke isn’t up for re-election in his State Senate seat until 2012.

On the flip side, if Davis gets in the Governor’s race, it may behoove Berke to go for the TN-03 seat. As much as I dislike Davis, he could be a powerful ally in the rural areas of TN-03 that shares a border with the 4th. By thinning the field, Burke could have a campaign partner for the general, and one that has the look and feel of a good old country boy. I’m not sure about Davis’ popularity in the 3rd, but he keeps winning the 4th, which is decidedly more rural.

Doing this could also set Berke up for higher office in the future. If Davis or another Democrat is successful in his bid for Governor, Burke could have a long term and powerful ally. 2012 could pit him against Corker for Senate, 2014 against an open seat left by Alexander, or Governor (should a Democrat lose in 2010) or Governor in 2018 (should a Democrat win in 2010 and 14). The opportunities are endless.

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Tags: 2010 Governor's race, Andy Berke, Third Congressional District  

Congresswoman Robin Smith?

By Kleinheider Posted on January 6, 2009 at 8:02 am

It might happen now that Zach Wamp is in the race for Governor:

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith, state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and state Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, all said Monday they are receiving encouragement to run in the district, which includes all or part of 11 counties stretching from Hamilton and Bradley counties north to the Kentucky border.

“At this moment, I am a very busy and very happy state party chairman, but very candidly I’m receiving a ton of calls and a lot of e-mails encouraging me and asking me what my plans are,” said Mrs. Smith, a Hixson resident.

Noting she is a working mother with two children in high school, Mrs. Smith said, “it’s not a decision you make lightly. … I’m going to talk to my family and I am going to weigh a lot of things.”

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Tags: Robin Smith, Third Congressional District, Zach Wamp  

Premised On The Assumption Wamp Will Get Past The Primary

By Kleinheider Posted on January 5, 2009 at 2:50 pm

Which, he won’t. A blogger declares Rep. Zach Wamp’s congressional seat “open”:

Wamp’s move also means that TN-03 becomes one of the first open seats of the 2010 cycle. Unfortunately for Democrats, it is very difficult to envision them mounting a competitive run. The district is very conservative, and it gave George Bush 61% of the vote in 2004. (The 2008 results aren’t available yet, but we know that McCain crushed Obama in each of the eight counties that make up the district.)

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Tags: 2010 Governor's race, Bill Haslam, Third Congressional District, Zach Wamp