NASHVILLE – While 3rd Congressional District hopeful Robin Smith decries “out of control” spending at the federal level, some Republicans say a review indicates she left the party with a money shortfall when she stepped down as state GOP chairman.
A Republican State Executive Committee member said he examined the review and stated it showed the state Republican Party as of May 31, 2009 – Mrs. Smith’s last official day at the party – had a bank overdraft of $19,090 on its unrestricted funds.
That was confirmed by two other Republicans. All spoke on condition their names not be used.
Smith campaign spokesman Mark Winslow on Thursday accused the campaign of rival 3rd District GOP candidate Chuck Fleischmann of peddling the story based on a “false allegation.”
He said via e-mail that Mrs. Smith “is widely regarded as the most effective and successful chairman in Tennessee Republican Party history. Since leaving the chairmanship, she has run a positive, issues-oriented campaign focusing on the important challenges facing the nation.”