Bill Haslam tapped to lead GOP governors

photo Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam speaks to supporters in Nashville after being re-elected Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014.

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam was chosen as the new chairman of the Republican Governors Association Thursday afternoon, state Republican Party officials said.

Haslam succeeds New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the partisan role, in which his job will be to get Republicans elected to governorships in 2016. Haslam was just re-elected to his second and final term as Tennessee governor on Nov. 4.

"Republican governors are the standard bearers of truly meaningful reform, and from coast to coast, we've proven to be principled problem solvers, willing and ready to do what Washington has not," Haslam said in a statement. "No one is achieving better results than our Republican executives in the states, and thanks to the RGA's hard work, they can continue to drive America's comeback."

Haslam said this month's election "was a resounding affirmation of the policies and the leadership Republican governors are providing, and I am honored and eager to build upon that momentum as I take on the chairmanship."

Several other governors, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, appeared to be too busy running for their party's 2016 presidential nomination to seek the chairmanship.

In a statement, Christie called Haslam "a strong leader among leaders" and said his chairmanship "will serve the RGA well as it works to build upon a historic election year and strengthen our majority in the states."

Haslam, according to Christie, "emerged as a true pioneer when he took office, and his commanding victory this past election shows that his reform-driven approach is working for Tennessee."

Christie said Haslam "is doing what governors are elected to do, he has the results to prove it. His guidance will be a tremendous asset to this organization in the coming year."

"I congratulate Governor Haslam for being elected the new chairman of the RGA," said state Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney. "With his leadership skills, fundraising prowess, and track record of success, he's a natural choice for this position. It's proof that on a national scale, more and more people are taking note of what he's doing in Tennessee."

A Politico story on Thursday morning raised the issue of whether Tennessee's chief executive is "too nice" for the attack-dog role.

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Haslam appears to have responded later in the day as Republicans criticized President Barack Obama, who planned to announce an executive order later Thursday dealing with illegal immigrants.

The normally mild-mannered Tennessee governor accused Obama of "just throwing a hand grenade in a room that doesn't allow discussion."

The Politico story describes Haslam as "a problem-solver rather than a partisan" and a "relative moderate" who won praise from Obama last year for his education policies and whose "earnest, no-drama approach" was attractive to national Republican leaders.

And, the magazine said, "with the RGA post -- a job held in recent years by past and future presidential candidates including Christie, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney -- Haslam may finally get a larger platform for his distinctive brand of Republican politics."

Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.

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