Herron’s exit from race could aid McWherter

NASHVILLE — State Sen. Roy Herron’s decision to leave the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary to run for a congressional seat is shaking up the governor’s race, with fellow West Tennessean and rival Mike McWherter likely to benefit, some observers say.

“He was the leading candidate in many people’s view, and now his dropping out leaves the field very, very open,” former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke said Tuesday of Sen. Herron. “The person I think would benefit the most is Mike McWherter, because they draw from a similar constituency.”

Sen. Herron, D-Dresden, announced Tuesday night he was abandoning his gubernatorial bid to run in Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District after it became known U.S. Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., would not seek re-election.

“I will create a Congressional committee, and begin immediately to raise funds and assemble a staff for this endeavor,” Sen. Herron said in a statement issued Wednesday. “At the same time, I have begun the process of winding up my campaign for governor.”

Will T. Cheek, another former state Democratic Party chairman, said Sen. Herron’s departure from the gubernatorial field “has got to benefit first of all any of the West Tennessee candidates, but more specifically McWherter, because you got two guys there from the same hometown.”

Mr. McWherter, son of former Democratic Gov. Ned McWherter, is from Dresden as is Sen. Herron.

But Sen. Herron’s departure also may “indirectly help” another Democratic gubernatorial candidate from West Tennessee, state Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, Mr. Cheek said.

There are two other candidates in the contest — former state House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, and Nashville businessman Ward Cammack.