We don’t know whether anyone could call it widespread dissatisfaction, but certainly there is dissatisfaction in the gubernatorial candidates of the two major parties in this year’s Tennessee election.
Eight percent of voters in a recent Beacon Center poll say they would prefer someone different than Republican Marsha Blackburn or Democrat Jerri Green. Meanwhile, the poll, taken more than two months before the election, had 14% of those surveyed undecided.
We don’t imagine the Blackburn campaign, which the poll showed had a comfortable 13% lead over Green, is too nervous, even with those who want someone else or are undecided.
However, two of the 13 independent gubernatorial candidates, Lauren Pinkston, more on the left end, and David Hatley, more on the right end, are attracting attention. Pinkston was the choice of 14% in the Beacon poll and Hatley 13% of those who said they would choose an independent candidate.
Interestingly, of Republicans who said they would vote for an independent, Pinkston picked up 25% of the vote and Hatley 25%.