Historically, no Mayor of Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, or Knoxville has ever been elected Governor. There is too much rivalry between the cities to accept the other guy's Mayor. Gail can answer this, but I suspect the Memphis folks, even Democrats, have little desire to be ruled by Nashville's Mayor. The same goes here. Nashvillians do not want to governed by Memphis politicians.
You saw a lot of that in the tax debate among the Democrats. West TN Dems rallying for an income tax while Middle TN Dems floated other taxes. Pharaoh Phil also used Memphis to steal a team that sport fans there wanted for over 20 years. How does that play over there?
Finally, the big guns have yet to enter the race. Even Tommy Burnett was concerned that Bredesen might be running to many ads early on. He might peak out an Van comes charging hard in September and October.
President Bush will be very active in the Tennessee campaigns. If Republicans win, that finishes Al Gore once and for all. It will prove once and for all that those who know him best do not like him or his party. If the Dems pickup offices, you are going to see Big Al out there telling everyone that this proves he has mended fences, Tennessee loves him (they just hated Clinton), and everyone can get behind him and take the White House from Bush. This is going to be a major war in all the Tennessee races.
NOW Memphis voters will overwhelmingly vote for oily phil. Memphis is 60% minority. 10 year olds along with their parents and the dead are bussed into the polls on election day (this is how albore won Shelby Co.) It is common knowledge and ignored. We in the County portion can't out vote Memphis, they out number us by at least 2-1.
There is also another factor playing here with voting in Memphis this election. We have a minority pol hollering racisim after getting his hand caught in the cookie jar. He is exhorting the churches to come to his aid to help defeat the evil GOP whities. I've posted the story, and the link to the original story.WILBURN hollers racisim