Free Republic

oing into the 2010 election cycle, conventional political wisdom held that U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, the incumbent 9th Congressional District representative from Memphis, would face his toughest test in the Democratic primary before cruising to victory in November. After all, it was former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton challenging Cohen in the primary, and the general election would likely pit him against a Republican candidate embracing tea-party philosophy in a district where 77 percent of the voters went for President Barack Obama in 2008. But that general-election opponent, a rare African-American Republican candidate named Charlotte Bergmann, appears to be galvanizing more...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For someone who her incumbent opponent has dismissed as a "fringe candidate", 9th District Republican congressional challenger, Charlotte Bergmann, stridently sends a "mainstream message"- granted with a conservative bent. “Success comes with people voting to insure the government stays out of the business of people who are trying to grow their businesses,” said Bergman. “I don't think of her as a maverick in the sense of being a maverick in ideas. But, I know one thing. Her ideas will be for the people. All the people,” said John Willingham, former Shelby County Commissioner. If the variety of...

WASHINGTON - Former Tennessee Gov. Winfield Dunn will be in Memphis Oct. 9 for a fundraiser breakfast for 9th Congressional District Republican candidate Charlotte Bergmann, he confirmed this afternoon. "She is our nominee and from all that I've been told she's a fine person with excellent credentials, and it's on that basis I agreed to come down and lend what influence I might to her efforts," Dunn said. "She's someone I look forward to meeting." Bergman is running against Democratic incumbent Steve Cohen.

Start unloading on the reporter!Jeff Beimfohr's email JBeimfohr@abc24.com

Yet, even as Steve Cohen's 9th Congressional District opponent prepares a campaign that may include a billboard proclaiming "Charlotte Bergmann can whip Steve Cohen," Memphis' most popular elected Democratic legislator is indicating he will not mount a large campaign aimed at motivating Democratic voters. Snip Cohen wasn't even sure how much effort he would put into a get-out-the-vote operation for his Democratic base.

African American Tea Party Candidate Upset With Cohen Comments FAST FACTS: * Congressman Steve Cohen says Tea Party hostile to anybody not "George Wallace clone" * Cohen's African American Tea Party opponent upset * Tea Party Candidate hopes to benefit from Cohen/Herenton battle (Memphis 04/04/2010) More sparks fly in the race for the 9th congressional district. Congressman Steve Cohen is said to be out of touch and this time the candidate throwing the punches is not his fellow Democratic opponent, Willie Herenton. The congressman's recent appearance on an internet radio talk show has some crying foul, including another candidate vying...