NASHVILLE – Jackson businessman Mike McWherter today formally announced his candidacy for governor as a Democrat, saying his emphasis as the state’s chief executive will be generating new jobs.
“In short, here is what I’m all about,” Mr. McWherter, 54, told about 75 supporters assembled on the steps of the state Capitol. “Tennessee first. Tennessee jobs.”
But while his focus as governor may be jobs, Mr. McWherter’s more immediate emphasis was on one of his potential Republican opponents, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.
Mr. McWherter charged that Mr. Haslam’s recent ads sought to pump up his resumé by touting the number of jobs generated by his family’s business, Pilot Corp., which operates interstate travel centers around the country and convenience stores in Tennessee.
“Tennesseans will see through these tricks, take the measure of the man, and say, ‘If he’s willing to stretch the truth about jobs, how can we trust him with the economy?'” Mr. McWherter said.
Other Democratic candidates bowed out of the Democratic primary before the filing deadline today.
Mr. Haslam, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., are all running in the Republican primary.