It is obvious that there are 2 Republican parties in Tennessee.
1. The old line moderates, godfather is Howard Baker, anointed prince is Lamar Alexander, and includes Don Sundquist, Jim Henry, Victor Ashe, Ted Welch, Lou Connor, Daniel Casse, Tom Ingram, etc. They don't oppose a State income tax, don't care much about social issues, actually like big government as long as it does what they want, are supported by the big money bankers and corporate types, and are basically Democrats except in their views about easing limits on big business. These folks tend to live in isolation in their Belle Meade mansions, gated communities, and government enclaves.
2. The Reagan hard-core conservative believers. They stand for smaller government, against a State income tax, care about family oriented and societal issues, tend to come from a religious background, and see the good of the common man and woman and our society as a whole as paramount. They live in the small towns and suburbs and mingle with the regular people. Van Hilleary, Ed Bryant, Marsha Blackburn, Donna Rowland, David Fowler, Tommy Hopper, Steve Gill, Phil Valentine are members.
There was talk on the radio this morning of the likelihood that people will vote for Alexander & Henry as a team or Hilleary & Bryant as a team. As you might well guess, I am a Hilleary & Bryant supporter.