More than 300 Republicans gathered in Chattanooga this morning for the GOP unity breakfast to support Chuck Fleischmann, nominee for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, but Robin Smith wasn’t among them.
Smith is the Hixson health-care consultant and former state party chairman whom Fleischmann defeated for the nomination.
Smith was said to have sent a letter to the Fleischmann headquarters stating that she had other plans today, said Delores Vinson, Hamilton County chairwoman.
Earlier, representatives from her campaign said Smith would be busy today moving her daughter into a dorm at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.
The breakfast turnout was far beyond that of GOP meetings in other cities, said Chris Devaney, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.
“This really shows the strength of the party,” Devaney said.
Other area Republicans who didn’t attend included former Fleischmann opponent Van Irion, former gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp, and gubernatorial nominee Bill Haslam.
Haslam, Irion and Wamp sent campaign representatives to deliver congratulatory messages to Fleischmann.
See Sunday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.