NASHVILLE — Tennessee Right to Life officials on Friday endorsed Republican Jim Vincent of Soddy-Daisy in his GOP primary challenge to Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, saying Rep. Cobb had “misused” the group’s previous endorsement.

“With the election of Jim Vincent, voters have a unique opportunity to return a proven pro-life voice back to the state House,” said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, in a statement.

Mr. Vincent served in the seat four years before not seeking re-election in 2004.

In his 2006 bid, Mr. Cobb had been endorsed by Tennessee Right to Life. But when he began using signs this year that said Tennessee Right to Life had endorsed him, Mr. Harris called on him to correct the signs, saying 2008 endorsements would not be made until later.

At the time, Mr. Harris said Rep. Cobb “was less than cordial” about the situation, called the original signs deceptive and suggested the group’s endorsement might not be forthcoming as a result.

In the endorsement of Mr. Vincent on Friday, Mr. Harris said Tennessee Right to Life “regrets that our organization’s endorsement has been misused and misrepresented by Mr. Cobb.”

Rep. Cobb said Friday evening he was “somewhat surprised that Brian Harris chose not to endorse a proven pro-life legislator. My voting record and my endorsement record proves that I stand as strong as anyone to protect the unborn.”

He said when Mr. Harris told him last month that a candidate survey had to be completed before a new endorsement was made, “I took my signs down within 24 hours.” The signs were replaced by news ones saying Rep. Cobb had been endorsed in 2006 by the Right to Life group, the lawmaker said.

“This was an honest claim with no misrepresentation intended,” Rep. Cobb said. “This decision by Mr. Harris will not deter me from standing as strong as ever to protect the lives of the unborn.”

Efforts to reach Mr. Vincent, a Soddy-Daisy businessman, were unsuccessful Friday night.

House Minority Leader Jason Mumpower, R-Bristol, said that while he is “not taking anything away from either one of them (Mr. Vincent or Rep. Cobb) in terms of the life issue, I guess I’m just surprised that it seems like an organization has made a decision based on a sign issue as opposed to a life issue.”

“There have been several of us concerned about Mr. Harris’ judgment for quite some time,” Rep. Mumpower said. “Again, that’s not to question the right to life credentials of either of these candidates. It is simply to question the judgment of Brian Harris in particular.”

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