U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., right, speaks during the 3rd Congressional District Republican debate with Weston Wamp, center, in a one-on-one meeting inside the WTCI television studio Wednesday afternoon. The taped show was televised at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The event was moderated by Dave Flessner, left, from the Chattanooga Times Free Press.TODAY’S EDITORIALS
TIMES: Bring Chuck Fleischmann home from Washington – in AugustFREE PRESS: Weston Wamp’s aggressiveness gives him debate edge
Both candidates agree: Wednesday’s 3rd Congressional District Republican primary debate got straight to the core differences between two-term incumbent Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and challenger Weston Wamp.
Fleischmann is — and will remain — as far to the political right as possible, and Wamp says the days of die-hard partisanship are hurting the country and need to pass.
The two met Wednesday for a one-on-one debate sponsored by the Chattanooga Times Free Press and WTCI-TV, Chattanooga’s PBS station. The mood was decidedly tense, with Fleischmann at one point repeatedly yelling at Wamp to answer a question about speaking with Democrats in the district — and Wamp rebuffing him to the sound of snickers from the challenger’s side of the room.
“It’s a little awkward, but I feel like I’m sitting across the table from an angry Republican congressman,” Wamp said.