NASHVILLE - Republican Robin Smith's 3rd Congressional District campaign manager today questioned whether GOP rival Chuck Fleischmann is paying for 2008 presidential candidate and Fox News host Mike Huckabee to campaign for him in Chattanooga on Wednesday.
Smith campaign manager Chris Meekins raised the issue in a news release today, asking, "Chuck - Did you pay Mike Huckabee to come to Tennessee and speak on your behalf as did candidate Les Phillips (sic) in Alabama?"
The e-mail refers to an Aug. 1, 2009, article in The Huntsville Times regarding Alabama 5th Congressional District GOP candidate Les Phillip. Mr. Phillip, the newspaper reported, paid Mr. Huckabee $33,990 to speak at a campaign fundraiser.
Asked whether he was paying Mr. Huckabee to speak and campaign on his behalf, Mr. Fleischmann said, "No sir. Not at all. This is done out of the kindness of the governor's heart and his support for me ... I know we're not paying any speaking fees or any lodging fees or anything like that."