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.