Sen. Lamar Alexander

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee State Museum has put on hold plans for a statewide traveling exhibit about U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander's times as governor. Concerns were raised about the state promoting the Republican amid his reelection campaign.

Lois Riggins-Ezzell, who was first named executive director of the museum when Alexander was governor in the 1980s, tells the Knoxville News Sentinel that political considerations never crossed her mind in planning the show.

The exhibit had been scheduled to kick off in Knoxville next month. It is now planned to take place after next year's elections.

Riggins-Ezzell said longtime Alexander aide Tom Ingram had agreed to help raise private donations to cover the more than $40,000 cost of the show.

Alexander has yet to draw an opponent in his reelection bid.