Hamilton County Republicans put further distance between themselves and the Republican primary Thursday with a dinner honoring their gubernatorial nominee, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.
Dozens of party leaders and faithful gathered at the Doubletree in downtown Chattanooga for dinner and to hear Haslam speak. The Hamilton County Pachyderm Club hosted the event.
“A lot of you helped Zach,” Haslam said, referring to his primary opponent Zach Wamp, who gave up his 3rd District congressional seat to run. “I need your help now. Right now it’s really important.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., gave the introduction and said that as a politician he’s won and he’s lost, losing to Bill Frist in the 1994 Republican primary for Senate. After Haslam spoke, Corker said he felt like part of being a senator is helping to smooth out any differences left over from the primary scuffles.
Hamilton County Pachyderm Club President Marty Von Schaaf said he felt the showing Thursday proved the party is “pretty well united.”