Thursday, June 17, 2010
Haslam Leads Rasmussen Poll — See His Interview with Flyer Staff
Posted by Jackson Baker on Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 10:58 PM
On Thursday, June 17, through the medium of Memphis’ Fox affiliate, WHBQ-TV, Channel 13, the results of a statewide poll into the Tennessee gubernatorial race were made public.
The survey was by the respected Rasmussen polling service, and it showed Knoxville mayor Bill Haslam doing best among all four candidates — including two other Republicans, Chattanooga congressman Zach Wamp and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey of Blountville; and Democrat Mike McWherter, a Jackson businessman whose father, Ned Ray McWherter, governed Tennessee for two terms.
In sample match-ups, all three Republicans led McWherter, except among African Americans, where the Democrat held the edge. But Haslam’s overall lead was larger, 50 percent to 32 percent among likely voters expressing a preference.
By comparison, Wamp and Ramsey both led McWherter by the identical margin of 44 percent to 33 percent.
Haslam did best on the favorability scale as well, scoring at 66 percent for the combined categories of “very favorable” and “somewhat favorable.” Comparable composite scores were: Wamp, 51 percent; Ramsey, 46 percent; and McWherter, 45 percent.
Voters in all categories and political persuasions expressed a favorable opinion of current governor Phil Bredesen, with Republicans weighing in at 66 percent “very” and “somewhat” favorable, and Democrats with 79 percent for the two categories.
As it happened, on the day before the results of the Rasmussen poll were revealed, showing him leading the gubernatorial pack, Haslam sat down with the Memphis Flyer editorial staff for a no-holds-barred group interview. Here, in four segments, is the result. (Video and titles by Chris Davis)
Part 1: On guns-in-bars; on journalists' questions; on who's the "least loony candidate;" on Zach Wamp and Bob Corker; on saving the Med; on whether to opt out of the new federal health-care plan —
Part 2: on immigration policy in Tennessee; on playing fair with Memphis; on the University of Memphis and higher education policy in general; on the Gulf catastrophe and energy policy —
Part 3: on TVA and the Kingston coal-ash spill; on "recusing" himself from a possible ethanol measure; on who should regulate petroleum issues under his administration; on possible conflicts of interest in general —
Part 4: on his "Memphis plan;" on not disclosing his income-tax returns; on comparing himself to the other candidates; on why Republicans have gained an edge over Democrats statewide; on his relations with African American voters —
Comments (13)
Showing 1-13 of 13
Yeah, he gave some good answers. But then again what politician (Willie Herenton aside) running for office wouldn't sound good in the same type of setting?
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i only made it through a couple of these. Haslam's pretty decent at the "non-answer", but at the very least, he doesn't fill me with rage and/ or dread like those other two goons.
wvfii: I came away from this interview impressed with Haslam's ability to respond in a non-defensive, fairly forthright manner to questions, some of which were intentionally provocative. He has a lot of charm and poise, and I didn't feel like he fell back on "talking points," a la Marsha Blackburn, who we interviewed under similar circumstances last year. I think he'd probably be a pretty decent governor. Looking forward to chatting with the other candidates.
Bruce: fair points. I should watch the rest of the clips before so cavalierly passing judgment (it was a time issue more than any sense of indignation). At the very least I'm pleased that he seems to be outperforming the moron twins poll-wise.
Haslam is certainly winning the prize for running the most TV commercials even to the point of overexposure.
Memphians and Tennesseans love going to Destin and the other Florida beaches. They treasure the crystal blue waters and the white sand beaches. If Tennesseans love Florida and the Gulf Coast so much, why would they vote for Knoxville Oilman Bill Haslam for Governor of Tennessee? Oilman Bill Haslam is a Republican candidate for Governor of Tennessee. The oil industry does not care about creating jobs or protecting the environment. This disaster started in late April. Yet we have not heard a statement about the situation from Republican Oilman Bill Haslam. Every southern Republican governor has expressed an opinion on this oil disaster. I call on Bill Haslam to immediately denounce BP and the oil industry for the disaster in the Gulf.
Zach Wamp Voted Poorly
SUMMARY:
Zach Wamp voted FOR: War Authorization Against Iraq, Trade Promotion Authority, Homeland Security, Interior Department Appropriations, Prescription Drug Plan — Republican Alternative, National Science Foundation, Unemployment Benefits, Global AIDS Initiative, Special Education, Budget Resolution — Final Version, Fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations, Supplemental Spending for Iraq & Afghanistan, U.S.-Chile Trade, U.S.-Singapore Trade, Agriculture Appropriations, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Job Training and Worker Services, Surface Transportation, Fiscal 2005 Budget Resolution, North American Development Bank, Child Nutrition Programs, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Foreign Aid, Agriculture Appropriations, UN “Reforms.”, Supplemental Appropriations, Vocational/Technical Training, Head Start Funding, Katrina Hurricane-relief Appropriations, Surface Transportation, CAFTA, Patriot Act Reauthorization, Foreign Aid, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Agriculture Appropriations, Supplemental Appropriations, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Patriot Act Reauthorization, Foreign Aid, Electronic Surveillance, Military Tribunals, Oman Trade Agreement, Line-item Rescission, Foreign Aid, COPS Funding, Head Start Funding, Minimum Wage, Peru Free Trade Agreement, Thought Crimes, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, Economic Stimulus, Head Start, Bailout Bill, Employee Verification Program, Warrantless Searches, Supplemental Appropriations, COPS Funding, Energy-Water Appropriations, Cash for Clunkers Funding.
Zach Wamp voted AGAINST: Ban on UN Contributions, not funding Mental Health Screening, Online Freedom of Speech, overhaul U.S. Treasury Borrowing, Defunding the NAIS, eliminate some Katrina Funding, bar funding of Iran Military Operations, specific congressional approval for Iran Military Operations, Iraq Troop Withdrawal.
See details of Zach's poor votes here:
http://mickeywhite.blogspot.com/2010/06/za…
As of today, thousands of people have been affected by the BP oil spill. Small business owners and fishermen have been financially ruined by the reckless actions of BP. The destruction caused by BP has devastated communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Yet we still have politicians pandering to BP and their corrupt oil industry. Texas Republican congressman Joe Barton opposed the 20 billion dollar relief fund established by BP and White House for the victims of the spill. He apologized to the BP executives for having to create this fund.
Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul stated that opposition to BP was "un-American".
GOP Minnesota congresswoman Michelle Bachman stated that "BP was being fleeced and that the company was a victim of a " $20 billion shakedown."
Knoxville Oilman Bill Haslam is running for Governor of Tennessee. He has promised to bring jobs to every county in Tennessee. But he has failed to criticize or denounce the corporate oil leadership at BP. Thousands of jobs are being lost in the Southeast due to the oil industry. But Oilman Bill Haslam remains silent on the oil disaster in the Gulf. The time has come for Oilman Bill Haslam to publicly reject the actions of BP in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tennessee and the Southeast deserve better than Bill Haslam's Oil industry.
Ramsey is a pig-ignorant birther. Outside of that, the rest of his jive is ripped straight from the far right wing playbook. Nothing new/ interesting to see here. I know every little of McWherter other than who is father and that he apparently thinks gays are unfit adoptive parents, but probably only because it's politically expedient (http://civicforum.chattablogs.com/archives…)
Wamp's a cokehead and Ramsey looks (and IS) stupid in a suit and cowboy boots....that's about all I can think of at the moment. McWherter I know nothing about, he's made a lot money selling beer I hear.
wow.
"I know every little of McWherter other than who is father and that he apparently thinks gays are unfit adoptive parents, but probably only because it's politically expedient "
how about: I know very little about McWherter other than who his father is and that he apparently thinks gays are unfit adoptive parents, but probably only because it's politically expedient
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