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 he intends to raise "as much as I can as quickly as I can."
"Obviously, I was at a disadvantage with that," said Lt. Gov. Ramsey, who is the Senate speaker.
Despite not having been able to raise campaign cash since Jan. 12, when the legislative session started, 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," Lt. Gov. Ramsey said. "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 first.
Haslam gets support of Kustoff
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Haslam said Thursday that the statewide campaign chairman of his former GOP rival, Bill Gibbons, is now supporting his effort and has agreed to serve as a statewide campaign co-chairman.
In a news release, Knoxville Mayor Haslam's campaign said former Gibbon's campaign chairman David Kustoff and several other former Gibbons supporters were at the opening of Mr. Haslam's Memphis campaign headquarters.
"Bill Haslam has the experience, intelligence and temperament needed to be an outstanding governor," Mr. Kustoff said.
Mr. Kustoff served as the state campaign manager for the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander's general election chairman in 2002 and state chairman for Bush-Cheney '04.
The Haslam campaign sought to portray the move as a sign of growing Republican support.
"Voters are quickly gravitating toward the only candidate in the race with a proven record of conservative executive leadership," the release said.
Also attending the Memphis headquarters opening was former U.S. Sen. Howard Baker, Mr. Haslam's honorary campaign chairman.
"Mayor Haslam is the leader Tennessee needs as its next governor. He has the right experience, in both the private and public sector, of cutting spending, balancing budgets and growing jobs -- the skills that are absolutely needed at this critical time for our state," Sen. Baker said in the news release.