Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney says Democrats face big problems now that former state House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, has bailed out of the governor's race.
"Democrats are going to struggle even further in this race now that they've lost their most articulate candidate," Mr. Devaney said in a news release. "The spotlight is now going to be on Mike McWherter and I'm confident that voters have already begun to see why he is not the right candidate for this job."
Ms. McMillan dropped out of the contest on Wednesday, announcing she intends to run for governor. Mr. McWherter, a Jackson, Tenn., businessman, officially announced his candidacy today and is the only Democrat in the race.
Mr. Devaney said Mr. McWherter "is facing an extremely difficult race against an exceptionally strong GOP field of candidates - one of whom will be elected the next governor of Tennessee."
Today is the filing deadline for state contests.