Haslam just a bored rich man, Wamp says

Gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., criticized his chief GOP primary opponent Bill Haslam as the idle son of a rich family who is just looking for something to do.

He also discussed his four-point plan for Tennessee in a meeting Tuesday with the Chattanooga Times Free Press editorial board.

Rep. Wamp said he has more experience than Mr. Haslam, who is mayor of Knoxville, and described Mr. Haslam's platform as "woefully inadequate."

"(His family) is always looking for something for him to do," Rep. Wamp said.

Mr. Haslam's campaign spokesman David Smith said the comments are "not worth a response."

"Bill Haslam is a proven leader in business and government, and he has a plan with real solutions to the issues Tennesseans care most about -- jobs, education and managing the state budget," Mr. Smith said.

Rep. Wamp, in talking up his plan that focuses on the economy, education, health and safe communities, said he wants to promote a rural economic development agenda and a production-centered economy.

He wants to push reading as a fundamental building block to learning and make Tennessee an "education-reform state," he said.

Rep. Wamp also wants to reform the criminal justice system to keep repeat offenders locked up and to encourage nonviolent drug offenders to seek treatment through drug-court programs.

KEY DATES* July 6: Last day qualified voters can register to vote for the county general election* July 16-31: Early voting for the county general election* Aug. 5: County general election and state race primaries

On the last point, Rep. Wamp, who has admitted in the past to struggling with drugs and alcohol, referred to his personal experience.

"Everybody knows my history," he said. "At 26 1/2 years, I've been totally sober and clean."

Dr. Bruce Oppenheimer, a professor of political science at Vanderbilt University, said Rep. Wamp's comments on Mr. Haslam show he's "looking for chinks in the armor."

He said Rep. Wamp also has tried to characterize Mr. Haslam as too liberal and that his family's business, Pilot Corp., presents conflicts of interest.

"Sometimes a tactic doesn't work immediately," Dr. Oppenheimer said. "Campaigns are sometimes not decided on a single event but on a collection of events. The other thing is, he's trying to present himself as the conservative alternative."


Gubernatorial race candidates

* Republicans

Zach Wamp

Bill Haslam

Basil Marceaux, Sr.

Ron Ramsey

* Democrat

Mike McWherter

* Independent

Brandon Dodds

Samuel David Duck

Carl Twofeathers Whitaker

Boyce T. McCall

Toni K. Hall

June Griffin

Donald Ray McFolin

James Reesor

Bayron Binkley

Mike Knois

Thomas Smith II

David Gatchell

Howard M. Switzer

Linda Kay Perry

Source: Tennessee Department of State


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