Candidates spar as early voting wraps

On the final day of early voting in Tennessee, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter repeated claims that his Republican rival, Bill Haslam, showed "serious mistakes in his judgment and character" by opening the door for carrying guns without a permit.

During a campaign swing through Chattanooga, McWherter said Haslam's "mistakes" are changing the momentum of a race in which a recent poll showed Haslam with a 2-to-1 lead.

McWherter, a Jackson, Tenn., beer distributor whose father served as governor in the 1980s and early 1990s, said Haslam "caved in" to gun interests by agreeing to gun laws he said could increase violent crime in Tennessee.

"I think this is making people very uncertain about (Haslam's) ability to lead this state, and they are taking another look at me," McWherter said.

Haslam, a millionaire businessman and mayor of Knoxville, told the Tennessee Firearms Association last week that he would sign into law a measure to do away with a state requirement to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public. But during his own campaign swing through Chattanooga, Haslam said he does not favor removing the 300,000 permits issued for those who carry concealed weapons in Tennessee and would urge the Legislature not to adopt such a measure.

"If the Legislature passed such a measure after due discussion, I would sign it, but I would weigh in on the argument," Haslam said.

McWherter said Tennessee needs a stronger leader than what Haslam has demonstrated on the issue of gun regulation. Three states - Vermont, Arizona and Alaska - allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons without permits. But most states, including Tennessee, require permit holders to first pass a gun safety course and go through a criminal background check.

McWherter said he met with the same Tennessee Firearms Association and told them he would oppose any measure to remove the requirement for concealed gun permits.

Haslam disputed McWherter's claim that the gun issue is a major point with voters. But after 655 days of campaigning for governor across the Volunteer State, he said voters are most interested in jobs.

"The big issues we need to focus on are jobs and the very tough budget challenges we have ahead of us," Haslam said.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who, like Haslam, was a wealthy businessman and mayor before running for statewide office, said he has known Haslam since he was 15 years old and is supporting him for governor.

"He has done a tremendous job as mayor recruiting jobs to Knoxville, and I know he will do the same for Tennessee," said Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor elected to the U.S. Senate four years ago.

McWherter calls himself a conservative Democrat like his father, Ned McWherter, and incumbent Democrat Phil Bredesen. He said his tax plan is more conservative than Haslam's because he proposes job tax credits of up to $2,500 for each new job added by a small business.

"That's a great idea, but it just isn't practical, given the budget challenges we have ahead," Haslam said.

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