Dr. Ron Kirkland (R-Jackson) has sent out a press release to the media stating that his campaign has raised 365K for his run to replace retiring Democrat John Tanner (D-Union City). The presser states the total does not include any self-endorsements or loans. State Senator Roy Herron (D-Dresden) was criticized for pushing a large fund-raising total, within a month of his jump from the Governor’s race, that contained a sizable personal contribution. Whatever the case may be, Kirkland clearly is indicating he will able to fund a serious campaign to obtain his party’s nomination.
The Kirkland presser clearly takes aim at the NRCC favorite in the race, farmer/gospel singer Stephen Fincher (R-Crockett County), for being the apparent pre-ordained choice of “a small circle of Washington insiders, DC power brokers, and professional fundraisers”. Fincher has been touted by Republican leaders in Washington since late last year and and received sizable contributions from several key members of the House. Kirkland’s presser also touts his strong connections to West and Middle Tennessee after years of service as a medical professional, insinuating a lack of breadth in Fincher’s connections within the district.
A serious Republican primary is brewing in the 8th Congressional District of Tennessee. This will be a primary race worth watching.
Read the following link for the presser and the results of the Madison County Young Republican Reagan Day Straw Poll -which or course is the case with all straw polls one needs to take with a grain of salt.
Source: Jackson Sun-Blog: “Motion Carried”- Nicholas Beadle: http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps…
Note: This is all my own writing and none of this material is copied and/or pasted; please read the link for the presser and Nicholas Beadle’s post on it. Also, in the original version of this diary I mis-attributed a posed question to Beadle, that was retracted in this version.