Despite a $370,000 fundraising effort last week by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, state Sen. Bo Watson says he’s still weighing the possibility of running against the third-term incumbent Republican in the 2016 primary for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District.
“I haven’t decided yet. … People talk to me about the seat and, among other things, my experience in state government and my being able to relieve some of the burdens the federal government puts on the states,” Watson said.
Last week, Fleischmann announced the largest fundraising effort in his political career at a private event at the Mountain City Club in Chattanooga. And U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy joined the Ooltewah lawyer to drum up support.
After the event, Fleischmann is estimated to have more than $500,000 to start the campaign.
“This time, I am making sure we have the financial wherewithal early, so we can defend any primary challenge,” Fleischmann said last week. “I’d prefer to have no primary challenger, but I’ll be ready.”