Posted on 07/24/2020 7:25:04 PM PDT by RandFan
(CNN) President Donald Trump's endorsed candidate in the US Senate race in Tennessee has suddenly found himself in an increasingly competitive primary fight that has divided top Republicans and prompted anger over one GOP senator's tactics.
Bill Hagerty was expected to coast to his party's nomination after the President endorsed him a year ago. But with less than two weeks to go before the Republican primary election, Trump's former US ambassador to Japan is facing a fierce challenge marked by a late infusion of ad spending, high-profile endorsements and rallies crisscrossing the state.
Dr. Manny Sethi and Hagerty traded attacks in separate phone interviews on Thursday, directly aiming their messages at the Republicans who will decide the August 6 primary.
Hagerty depicted Sethi, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as a "phony conservative" who supported Trump only when it was "convenient." Sethi fired back that Hagerty, who founded a private equity firm, is a "Washington insider" and a "Mitt Romney Republican."
Sethi's campaign has been bolstered by the support of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who appears in an ad for the Protect Freedom PAC, which has dropped more than $800,000 in the race -- more than any other outside group, according to Kantar's Campaign Media Analysis Group.
"The race was a bit of a sleeper," said Paul, who went to medical school with Sethi's medical partner and believes the candidate will "stand up when leadership wants to spend too much money."
"Really in the last couple of weeks, things have really sprung his direction," Paul added.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Thanks for the report.
Will be interesting to see what happens!
You’re welcome.
It certainly WILL be interesting!
Sethi aint no conservative
I am disgusted that 1st generation Asian types born here are seen as just fine for our Congress. I say BS.
Agree. After these politicians get elected they are not much different then high level civil service/Fed service types. It is all about sitting on fanny and getting the FERS retirement, etc. Damn SAD.
He moved to Tennessee from Massachusetts where he was much more of a Liberal politician.
He’s never been a politician and I trust Rand so should you!
Raised in Hillsboro, Tennessee, Dr. Manny received his undergraduate degree from Brown University. After college, as a Fulbright Scholar he worked in Tunisia with children suffering from muscular dystrophy. He then went on to receive his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, where he also completed his orthopedic residency. Dr. Manny returned home to Tennessee to impact change in healthcare and education.
Only time Rand contacts me is for $’s.
A perfect example...the corrupt Luther Strange (R-Swamp).
Rand is not funded by special interests. He needs grassroots support otherwise he would not be able to win a state wide election.
Puhlease rally the Vols to choose well. I am counting the days until I return to that free state.
I take it Trump takes his senate endorsement directions from that imbecile Mitch McConnell.
BULLchit. I am so sick of this pathetic reasoning that we ‘have to vote for the weak candidate because they’re the only one that can win’. I am beyond over selling my soul for some nebulous crap.
Sethi’s Never-Trump campaign staff is a problem for me, too.
And I hate Hagerty.
The pharmacist chick seems to have some fraud skeletons in her closet.
[sigh]
“Sethis wife admitting that she donated $50 to Mitt Romney but Hagerty donated what was it, $100K to Romney??”
I saw that. You never know what’s true — or “the rest of the story”, do you?
I would trust Ted Cruz and Mark Levin over all the swamp
Of course Tom Cotton should appreciate someone supporting him against the NYT crazies, but I’d like to see what would happen if he had a chance to know more about everybody...
Curious as to why?
Slanderous drivel by an anti Jared bigot
Then you don’t want Hagerty, got caught backing BLM, Quickly resigned. Supported Al Gore, another Romney/Lamar RINO.
List NO religious preference auto tagged by MSM as Conservative Christian. Dr Manny plainly, boldly states he is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.