NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s first open contest for governor in eight years has become a multimillion-dollar slugfest among the three top Republicans vying in Thursday’s primary election.
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp have slammed each other’s records on taxes and spending and fought over their conservative credentials, broken pledges and business dealings.
As of last Monday, campaign expenditures had hit $14.5 million.
By comparison, the Democratic primary has been an oasis of tranquility. Only one candidate is on the ballot: businessman Mike McWherter, of Jackson, the son of former Gov. Ned McWherter.
Vanderbilt University political science professor Bruce Oppenheimer said that the Republican sparring – much of it in television ads – reflects the continuing tension between the party’s hard conservatives and its relative moderates.