By Andy Sher
asher@timesfreepress.com
NASHVILLE – Rusty’s back and he’s still not happy with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam.
Rusty Criminger, the folksy Chattanoogan who recently appeared in a Zach Wamp television ad criticizing Haslam, is back for Round 2 in a new 30-second spot. He’s now scolding Haslam, who is Knoxville’s mayor, for attacking Wamp, a Chattanooga congressman.
“This Bill Haslam ticks me off,” the gravel-voiced Criminger says in the ad. “He’s spending his millions attacking a good man, Zach Wamp. What a smokescreen. Haslam doesn’t want you to know that the first thing he did as mayor was raise property taxes.”
He adds: “Zach Wamp’s got my vote because he’s never raised taxes.”
The ad concludes with Wamp saying, “We don’t need higher taxes. As governor, I’ll cut spending, create more jobs and guarantee no state income tax. That’s why I need your vote.”
The ad is one of two Wamp is airing statewide as candidates race down to the wire in next Thursday’s GOP primary.
In the second ad, Wamp personally defends himself from Haslam ad attacks, then puts his religious views on display, saying, “I believe God is the center of the universe. He made us to serve him and to serve others. We must restore America to its Judeo-Christian heritage and our constitution.”