No Frist in Governor's Race? Then Gibbons, Maybe Norris
by Jackson BakerArticle Tools
- jb
- Bill Frist; Mark Norris; Bill Gibbons
As word spreads this weekend that former U.S. Senator Bill Frist will not make a run for governor in 2010, the way is open for an extensive field of Republican candidates, including District Attorney General Bill Gibbons, to make expected announcements of candidacy.
A report on the chattanoogan.com Web site Saturday quoted “a high Republican source” as saying Frist would be announcing his non-candidacy on Monday. The former Senate Majority Leader had been regarded as a prohibitive favorite in the gubernatorial race, at least on the Republican side of things – so much so that none of the other six known GOP hopefuls would have been prepared to run had he done so.
Besides Gibbons, the others are state senator Mark Norris, also of Shelby County; Blackburn; 3rd District representative Zach Wamp of Chattanooga; former state representative and ex-state GOP chair Beth Harwell of Nashville; Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey of Blountville; and Knoxville mayor Bill Haslam.
GOP national committeeman John Ryder said he, too, had heard rumors of Frist's reluctance to run several days ago, at which time Haslam, who is considered close to Frist, was scheduling an imminent fundraiser and Wamp began making plans for one of his own.
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Somehow, the term "rogues' gallery" comes to mind. I guess one of these prospects for the governorship would complete the coup d'etat Republicans in Tennessee managed to accomplish in an otherwise (and logically) Democratic year, which proved that alchemy is still alive and well in politics (or, at least, the Tennessee version of it).
What about Brian Kelsey? He would make a great governor. He's well known state-wide too.
He's a grandstanding little dweeb, so yeah, you're right, he'd probably be perfect for the job.
I seriously hope Bill Gibbons runs on his record of busting titty bars.
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