Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R.-Tenn., exits Judge Jacqueline Bolton’s courtroom.Nearly two years ahead of 2014 congressional elections, campaign donors are defecting from U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn.
Several members of a potential opponent’s exploratory committee — people who often are a politician’s earliest and most ardent supporters — gave money to DesJarlais in 2010 or 2012.
Last week, state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, made public the names of 16 people who will support his fundraising efforts as he decides whether to challenge DesJarlais in the 2014 GOP primary.
Records show at least four of Carr’s early boosters — including a powerful auto dealer, a physician and a former Rutherford County GOP chairman — gave DesJarlais a combined $12,900 during his 2010 and 2012 campaigns for Congress.
Carr’s exploratory committee is headed by auto dealer Lee Beaman, a big fish in Middle Tennessee Republican circles who has given $7,400 to DesJarlais.