CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp and Robin Smith won straw polls for governor and Congress, respectively, on Saturday following speeches by most candidates running for those offices.
The candidates spoke at the annual Bradley County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner.
Out of 310 straw votes cast, Mr. Wamp received 63 percent followed by Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam with 26 percent. Joe Kirkpatrick and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey received about 5 percent each. Mr. Ramsey was the only candidate not available for the dinner but was represented by attorney Travis Henry.
Mrs. Smith received 42 percent of the vote, followed by Tim Gobble with 23 percent and Art Rhodes with 21 percent, both from Bradley County. Chuck Fleischmann got about 8 percent. Van Irion and Tommy Crangle got about 3 percent each.
"Washington is a mess," Rep. Wamp told the crowd. He said he is leaving his 3rd Congressional District seat because "for some time there has been this conflict between our federal government and our states."
"We want Tennessee to be responsible, balanced, no debt, going forward, preserving our values, meeting the federal government at the state line; hold them at bay," Mr. Wamp said.
"We want to be part of the United States, not run over by the United States," he said to applause.
He urged the crowd to elect him the first governor from Southeast Tennessee in 105 years.
Mrs. Smith said she has always been a conservative.
She urged the crowd to treasure all life, from the womb to the elderly.
She said she has worked in the past to define marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman and to block a potential state income tax.
Mrs. Smith also addressed Mr. Irion, who came to the podium with a pitchfork. Mr. Irion had said Tea Party advocates are among his supporters.
Mrs. Smith said Tennessee Republicans don't deserve the criticism.
"In this state, we've got it right," she said.
Holding a piece of Ocoee Gorge pyrite, or fool's gold, in her hand, Mrs. Smith told the crowd "don't pick up the pyrite."