NASHVILLE - Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Haslam is airing a new radio ad charging his GOP rival, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, is "no conservative" and is "not ready to be governor."
The 30-second spot charges the Chattanooga congressman broke past campaign pledges on term limits and to "not accept special interest money."
"This man voted for billions in earmarks - the 'Bridge to Nowhere,' 'cash for clunkers' and so much more," the ad says of Rep. Wamp. "In his many many years in Washington he helped run up the federal debt to more than $13 trillion dollars. Trillion. He never met a payroll, never balanced a major budget.
"Would you call that man a conservative?" the ad continues. "Would you call that man ready to be Tennessee's governor? That man is Congressman Zach Wamp. Not a conservative. Not ready to be governor."
The ad comes as early voting continues in the Aug. 5 Republican primary. A Mason -Dixon Polling & Research survey conducted last week on behalf of the Chattanooga Times Free Press and the state's three other major newspapers showed Knoxville Mayor Haslam leading Mr. Wamp by 36 percent to 25 percent.
The third Republican candidate, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, was in third place with 20 percent support. The poll's margin of error was plus or minus five percent.