NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey is suggesting that Bill Haslam may be vulnerable in the Thursday’s Republican gubernatorial primary because he has not specifically targeted GOP voters.
Ramsey, who had campaign events scheduled at two East Tennessee firing ranges on Wednesday, said his bid has focused on gun owners and other key Republican constituencies, while Haslam has run more of a general election-style campaign.
Haslam maintains that there’s no reason to tailor his messaging solely to the primary voters.
“I’m a strong Republican conservative, I won’t apologize for that,” he said. “But if we win the primary, we’ll run the same race in the general.”
A third Republican candidate, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga, has in recent days ramped up religious themes in his speeches and television ads.