NASHVILLE - With a ban on fundraising during the annual legislative session ending a week from Saturday, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a GOP candidate for governor, said today he intends to raise "as much as I can as quickly as I can."
"Obviously I was at a disadvantage with that," Lt. Gov. Ramsey, who is the Senate speaker, told reporters.
Despite not having been able to raise campaign cash since Jan. 12, Lt. Gov. Ramsey said, he remained ahead of GOP rival Zach Wamp with cash on hand as of March 31. He said he knows he cannot outraise Republican Bill Haslam, a businessman millionaire.
"So I had some goals along the way. I've met every one of those goals, and I feel confident I'll meet the rest of my goals between now and Aug. 5 (GOP primary)."
The state's ban on in-session fundraising in election years lifts when the annual session ends or May 15, whichever occurs sooner.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey anticipates his first fundraiser "won't be the 15th, but shortly thereafter we'll have some. I'm not sure when those are planned, but I'm sure within a week or so we'll have some."