Is TN part of the “Deep” South?
Anyway, this a major urban center (almost of them lean liberal and rat) and he’s a stalinist democrat. There is absolutely no reason this should surprise you.
When it’s at the point we have a mainstream Republican Senator (Portman) who is pimping it, it’s not even news that a rat mayor is pimping it, whatever part of the country his city is in.
As defined by the old Confederacy, I’d say we’re a border state. We were quickly conquered by Union forces and Nashville became the most heavily fortified city in America to deter a Southern capture (though it was tried late in the war).
I’m more surprised that Dean would “come out” on this, especially if he is expected to run for Governor when the seat comes open in 2018. Putting himself on the far-left of the social spectrum won’t play well in this state.