George Flinn announces plan to run against Lamar Alexander

Memphis Business Journal ^ | April 1, 2014 | Ed Arnold

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Local physician and owner of Flinn Broadcasting, George Flinn, has pulled a petition to challenge U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in the coming Republican primary.

Flinn joins 11 other candidates who have pulled petitions for the Republican primary, the most known among them is state Rep. Joe Carr. In February, a poll conducted on behalf of Alexander showed the Tennessee senator with a commanding lead over Carr.

Flinn, who has served on the Shelby County Commission, lost a previous bid for the 8th District U.S. House seat in 2010. Flinn tried again in 2012, running against incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen, who was re-elected.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

This is not good news. It would be good news if Tennessee's elections followed the rules of those in South Carolina, but they do not. In South Carolina, if no one reaches 50 percent, there is a runoff between the top two candidates. Therefore, the more the merrier in order to keep Lindsey Graham from reaching the magic 50 percent and perhaps galvanizing the opposition to coalesce behind a single candidate in a runoff. In Tennessee, though, whoever has the most votes in the first vote wins. Alexander could win with less than 50% of the vote and not have to face a runoff. That was the problem when Corker was elected. Conservatives split the vote and enable Corker to sneak in without a runoff. Against Lamar, conservatives need to coalesce behind Carr.

[RginTN]

As much as I like Dr. Flinn, I’m voting for CArr.

Dr. Flinn needs to focus on running for Memphis Mayor the current Dem, who I’ve met and like, isn’t doing the city much good economically.

[Figment]

“Flinn, who has served on the Shelby County Commission, lost a previous bid for the 8th District U.S. House seat in 2010. Flinn tried again in 2012, running against incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen, who was re-elected”

Cohen is in the 9th district, not the 8th. IIRC Flinn lost in the 8th district primary to Fincher in 2010

[SharpRightTurn]

You’re right, EOHH—we don’t want to split the anti-Alexander vote and let Ole Pantywaist back in again.

[bluetick]

Flinn most definitely lost to Cohen in the 9th District general election in 2012. He was defeated in the primary against Fincher et al in 2010.

[bluetick]

And the Congressional districts were redrawn such that Flinn’s residence was in the 8th District in 2010 but the 9th in 2012 iirc.

[TBP]

Bedsheeting the ballot will only renominate Lamar.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Me! Me! I wanna run, I wanna run too! These clowns never think about the overall good of the country, and coalescing behind someone with a good chance of winning.

[Figment]

Wasn’t trying to pick nits. I voted for Flinn in 2010. He doesn’t have a knack for popularity even though he has sound conservative views. I don’t see him doing more than taking votes from Carr in the primary. As much as I’d like to see a conservative unseat Lame-r the tax lover, it just isn’t going to happen.

[ExCTCitizen]

Fling should say that he is dropping out and endorsing Carr.Maybe he’ll run against Crocker.

[cva66snipe]

I'm voting for Carr. Lamar needs to go. What would have been an almost certain unseating of Alexander would have been one of the Conservative Congresscriters running against him. I don't think Alexander could have withstood a challenge from any of them his time in a one on one non split challenge.

What's hurting Carr is RINO Alexander is getting coverage & positive support from the liberal newspapers. Naturally they are going to ignore Carr.

[bluetick]

I wasn’t trying to pick nits either and I fully agree with your assessment. Moreover, I was indirectly emphasizing that George Flinn has ran unsuccessfully for Congress more than once. Dr. Flinn is a really nice man in person but for whatever reason that doesn’t transfer to the ballot. I remain behind Carr as our only shot to get rid of the statist Alexander.

[bluetick]

Oh, and fwiw, I voted for Flinn in 2012 (unfortunately I am stuck in the 9th District until I can convince my spouse to move).

[don-o]

Ping. Let me know if you want to be added to / removed from BeatLamar! Ping list. Please ping me to threads of interest - winning the Senate in 2014.

336 B.C. -— Alexander the Great
2014 A.D. — Alexander the Barely Mediocre

[Coldwater Creek]

Way to many candidates. Who ever heard of George Flynn outside of Memphis?

[don-o]

Probably about the same number who have heard of Danny Page.

[SumProVita]

I will stick with Carr at this point.