Posted on 10/05/2017 9:14:04 AM PDT by SharpRightTurn
NASHVILLE, TN (WRCB) -
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he will not be running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by current U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.
Haslam issued a statement earlier that reads::
While Crissy and I will always be grateful for all of the encouragement and support to run for the United States Senate, I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for Senate in 2018. The primary reason is that I want to remain completely focused on my job as governor. I know that being a candidate for the Senate during my last 15 months as governor would be a distraction from the task at hand. And, while I have loved being a mayor and a governor, I don’t feel the same call to run for Senate at this point. At the end of my term, I will have been in public office for 15 years. I feel like I can be most helpful in my next service as a private citizen.
Haslam had been holding out hope that Corker, a close family friend, would run for a third term in the Senate, and didn't begin to seriously consider his own bid until he learned otherwise.
"While I have loved being a mayor and a governor, I don't feel the same call to run for Senate at this point," Haslam said. "At the end of my term, I will have been in public office for 15 years. I feel like I can be most helpful in my next service as a private citizen."
Haslam was first elected governor in 2010 and can't run again next year because of term limits. His vast personal wealth and popularity in the state would have given other Republicans contenders pause had he decided to run for Senate.
Other Republicans voicing an interest in running include U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, former Rep. Stephen Fincher and state Sen. Mark Green.
If he had chosen to run, he would have immediately become the front runner, based upon name recognition and unlimited funding potential.
Now, let's hope potential conservative candidates get behind one candidate so as not to split the primary vote and let a squish (ala Alexander and Corker) win the nomination.
Any Tennessee RINO knows he will be vigorously primaried. I would like to see Scott DesJarlais, Diane Black, or Marsha Blackburn make a run for it.
THANK YOU GOD !!!!!!!
ONCE AGAIN, A PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED !!!!!!!!!
RINO calculates wisely. He’d lose big in primary.
Blackburn is reportedly interested.
Blackburn running.
Go Marsha!!!!!!
. . . and unlimited funding potential.
Good thing David Brat and Roy Moore didn’t get that memo. I have been excoriating people to waylay that conventional wisdom for years now. Break the template!
This is great news. This gives the Senate seat a clear path for conservatives. Blackburn might have won even if Haslam entered the race, but without Haslam the seat is definitely ours for the taking.
yes!
“Blackburn running”
I just heard that:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/marsha-blackburn-launches-tennessee-senate-bid/article/2636626
This is the Roy Moore effect. Go Bama.. Roll Tide!
If he was hoping for a Corker 3rd term, then I’m ecstatic that he won’t even be running. Enough of these squishies, these RINO bastards who only care about their perks.
By my count, assuming she would win, this would be:
RINO to Trumpers
Flakey loses to Ward, who wins
Heller loses to Tarkanian (possible, but tough fight)
Strange has lost to Moore
Then
Stabencow loses to Kid Rock
Nelson loses to Scott
Who am I missing? That’s a potential net shift of two Rs and net five Trumpers.
A man, please. All else being equal, women make inferior leaders and are prone to hormonal emotional turmoil.
Please note, ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL.
Good! Marcia Blackburn for US Senate.
“Who am I missing? That’s a potential net shift of two Rs and net five Trumpers.”
I can’t think of any others. I am most familiar with the first three on your list, which I agree with 100%
I haven’t really read up on the potential Stabenow/Kid Rock and Nelson/Scott match-ups.
Perhaps a solid challenger to Manchin will emerge in WV.
Any potential conservative candidate to run against Heitkamp?
More winning!!!
I hope so!
“Bill Haslam says he will not be running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by current U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.”
Now that is just outstanding news, two out now looking for Alexander.
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