Zach Wamp

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said Friday that he is planning to “sit back and let the voters decide” the GOP’s presidential nominee, because he was “so far out” in his support of former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.

“Obviously, Senator (John) McCain (R-Ariz.) has the momentum and is our front-runner now,” he said during an appearance at a meeting of the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee at the Mountain City Club. “(Sen. McCain) and (former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt) Romney and, to some extent, (former Arkansas Gov. Mike) Huckabee are still competitive right now.”

He said the most important thing for the GOP’s nominee will be who that candidate selects as a running mate.

Rep. Wamp said Mr. Thompson would be a good pick to energize “ambivalent” Republican conservatives.

“I do think that our party has a real challenge activating our base,” he said.

Rep. Wamp noted that Sen. McCain may select a centrist running mate such as U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ind.-Conn., who was former Vice President Al Gore’s running mate on the 2000 Democratic ticket.

The congressman pointed out that a large group of voters is fed up with partisan politics.

“Both parties have disappointed the American people,” he said.

Rep. Wamp said the GOP is still in the process of finding itself following the death of former President Ronald Reagan. He said Democrats are having a difficult time pulling together the numerous factions in that party.

Chattanooga City Councilman Jack Benson, a Democrat, thanked Rep. Wamp for not taking up with “the crazy fringes” in politics.

“We have to come to the middle,” Mr. Benson said. “I think that’s the only way this country’s going to get itself straight.”

W.L. “Bubba” Ricketts, a self-described conservative, asked Rep. Wamp why Sen. McCain is not considered conservative enough.

“He’s pro-life,” Mr. Ricketts said. “He’s never supported gay marriage.”

Rep. Wamp said conservative commentators such as Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are essentially entertainers and have too much clout in today’s political process. He said political opponents should not be enemies.

“Al-Qaida is the enemy,” he said.

Likewise, Rep. Wamp said the wing of the GOP led by former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Texas., was “destructive.” Rep. Wamp said Mr. DeLay harped on keeping the Republican majority in Congress.

“It took us down into a ditch,” Rep. Wamp said of that mentality.