Blount County has suffered over the past decade or two with the economic down turn. Lamar's love of EPA hasn't helped matters. Their main industry for years was ALCOA. That plant last I heard is idle. The largest employer in Lamar's home county I think is Japanese owned DENSO. Don't get me wrong a good place to work and pays good. It's non union. My Son in law works there. But hey Lamar what about the United States?
Sevier County though their main income is Tourism which is heavily dependent upon workers both local and nation wide workers ability to afford a vacation. When Dollywood has a good year most local tourism related businesses have the same. The others cities in Sevier County many will recognize are Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. I doubt much love for Lamar is left there. Palin will receive a much more warmer welcome there than in Knoxville.
CVA, thank you for a boots on the ground assessment if you will. The picture you paint is that unseating Lamar is do-able. Good News....
A lot of people in TN are just so uninformed that they associate “Lamar!” with “good” and his opposition as “bad”.