NASHVILLE – The Cook Political report this week shifted its ranking for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District contest from “leans Democrat” to “toss-up.”
The contest features U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., of Pall Mall, and Republican physician Scott DesJarlais of Jasper.
On its website, the nonpartisan newsletter said the new ranking comes “as outside groups ratchet up their involvement” in the race.
The DesJarlais campaign trumpeted the change in a news release today, saying the report’s editor and publisher, Charlie Cook, said “DesJarlais is holding steady” despite Davis’ television-ad attacks.
The National Republican Campaign Committee and two Republican-conservative groups, Americans for Tax Reform and Americans for Limited Government, have jumped into the contest in the past two weeks. They have spent more than $900,000 attacking Davis in television ads and direct mail, according to Federal Election Commission reports.