Herron hosts Chattanooga fundraiser

Three hours away from the congressional district he's trying to win, State Sen. Roy Herron hosted a private fundraiser Tuesday night in Chattanooga.

Mr. Herron is running for Tennessee's 8th Congressional District seat now held by U.S. Rep. John Tanner, a Democrat, who announced his retirement last year after 11 terms in Congress.

Dickson County, which is west of Nashville, is the closest part of 8th District territory to Chattanooga.

Asked why he came to Chattanooga to raise money for a campaign developing on the other side of the state, Mr. Herron said donors here "expect" him to hold private dinners as other politicians do.

The 8th District is in two of Tennessee's three Grand Divisions -- West and Middle -- and going to the East division also simply is part of campaigning, Mr. Herron said.

"I think Tennesseans understand when you run for Congress in a district that stretches across two Grand Divisions, going into the third one is not exactly a place one would not be expected to go," he said.

Mr. Herron first campaigned for governor last year, but he left that race the same night Rep. Tanner announced his retirement last December.

"He believed, I think correctly, that he had a better chance of winning the 8th than winning both the nomination and the general election of the governorship," said Dr. John Geer, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University.

Herron campaign adviser Carol Andrews said the money Mr. Herron raised for his gubernatorial campaign had to be refunded to each individual donor. Some donors, she said, still are deciding whether to donate to Mr. Herron's congressional campaign.

Tennessee Republican Party chairman Chris Devaney thinks Mr. Herron's traveling could be a sign of trouble.

"The donors involved should be aware that Roy Herron has an uphill battle to keep that seat for the Democrats," Mr. Devaney said.

Campaign finance documents show Mr. Herron's funding leads all candidates' with a total of $681,434 as of Dec. 31, 2009.

But Mr. Devaney said four Republican candidates have combined to raise more than $1 million.

"The majority of that money raised was within the (8th) district," he said.

According to Dr. Geer, Republicans are gunning for borderline-conservative districts such as Mr. Herron's. The Democrats could lose that seat for the first time in more than 30 years, Dr. Geer said.

"I can see where it's viewed as a big Republican year, but that's still premature," he said. "Right now, in that particular district, it looks like a year that would be harder for most Democrats to compete."

Tuesday's event, held in Chattanoooga's 212 Market restaurant, afforded entry to those who donated $250 to Mr. Herron's campaign. Donors of $1,000 or more were rewarded with "host" status for the dinner, a news release said.

The event was not open to the press, but one donor said the "packed" venue attracted more than 40 people vying to meet Mr. Herron, who discussed job creation during a short speech.

"He talked about his campaign and how well it's going," said Bryan Hoss, an attorney in Chattanooga. "I think he's got an excellent chance at being the next congressman from West Tennessee."

Mr. Herron was Tennessee chairman of Al Gore's campaign in 2000.