Tennessee Rep. Lincoln Davis (D) closed the door Thursday evening on the possibility of making a gubernatorial run in 2010, a move he had been considering.
In a statement, Davis cited his recent appointment to the Appropriations Committee as a key reason behind his decision.
At the very least, this means that Republicans won’t get to take an easy crack at Davis’ conservative TN-04 CD — its old PVI was R+3, but Obama absolutely cratered in the district, taking only 34% of the vote, compared to 41% for John Kerry in 2004 and a remarkable 49% for Al Gore in 2000.
With Davis keeping his perch in the House, the field is now clear for… well, Harold Ford, Jr., I guess. Another possible name who may be convinced to take a crack at the race is state Sen. Andy Berke.
She’s the former state house majority leader and already is in the race.
http://www.kimmcmillan.com/
Was hoping he’d run. Davis would have had a good shot and we need to hold the Governorship. Oh well. At least his house seat is still mostly safe.
who thought Obama had “terrorist connections” or some shit like that?
Frankly, whether he runs for Gov or not, I’m not sure he’d have won in the end. The GOP may still end up controlling the state house and governorship in 2010 and redistrict him out of office (pay back for what he did to ex-GOP Congressman Van Hilleary), though the fact that he got the an Approps seat on Energy & Water (a big spending hog house of a committee) may be insurance against a redistricting challenge .
for statewide office in Tennessee. He came pretty close to being a senator, and it’s a lot easier to run as a Democrat in Tennessee at the state level than at the federal one.
We could hold his district fairly easily, he votes more conservative than the district anyway in order to maintain statewide viability, and we might even get a better Dem in his seat if he gave it up. Not to mention he theoretically ought to be competitive for governor.
Also, it’s kindof surprising that a guy with the given name Lincoln ever managed to win election in Tennessee to start with. I’m sure that was much remarked upon when he first won. A great many old confederates rolled over in their graves, no doubt.
Former Rep Hayworth seems to be considering it, and in any event there’s a movement building for a serious challenge.
Sweeeeeeet.
He’s the real progressive in a TN context. He’s the one in TN out there defining what it means to be a democrat.
Davis wouldn’t stand much of a better chance of winning than the other probable candidates. It’s going to be a tough hold no matter who we run.
I’d like to keep control in TN but Davis’s seat would have nearly impossible to hold and we’ve got plenty of fine candidates considering running already.
I wonder if Ford is willing to give up his nice life as a pundit to run for it?
was intrested.
Ford won’t win; neither will Berke.