Jim Henry admits heยs playing catch-up in his race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination versus Van Hilleary, but he says, ยIf we do in the next six weeks what weยve done n the last six weeks, this race will be even.ย
What heยs done is raised a little money here and there ร an estimated $75,000 from a visit to Memphis on Thursday, and similar amounts maybe in Nashville and Chattanooga ร but he still wonยt say what heยs raised overall and wonยt until heยs required to. About Hilleary, who had to disclose year-end receipts at the end of January and did so, to the tune of some $2 million, Henry says, ยYou know how he was doing voluntary disclosures all the way through the end of last year? Well, he hasnยt done any since then.ย ร the clear implication being that he (Henry) is moving and Hilleary isnยt.
The former House Republican leader and state GOP chairman from Kingston had the first billboards up in the middle of last year, and now, says Henry, heยs ยfirst out of the boxย with TV and radio media, too.
Before a group of contributors in Memphis Henry unveiled his new ads, which will run statewide starting on Monday and, in an echo of his earlier slogan ยSmart,Qualified, Electable,ย stress the themes of conciliation , know-how, and of being ยready from Day oneย — clear shots at Hilleary, the five-term 4th district congressman who in recent weeks has twisted his tongue and gotten frustrated a time or two, most recently in Blountville over the issue of whether he owed the public or the media an explanation of how heยd handle the continuing state revenue crisis.
Henry makes a pass at sounding gracious about Hillearyยs discomfiture, saying, ยWell, Iยm sure he didnยt meant that. He was tired, or maybe he was reacting to the tone of the media person questioning him.ย
The erstwhile Lamar Alexander protรฉgรฉ concedes privately that thereยs a little bit of dovetailing between his support and that of Senate candidate Alexander, though he claims to have the backing of some of 7th District congressman Ed Bryantยs people, too.
What he doesnยt claim is what many people — specifically including Hilleary — believe, that he has Governor Don Sundquistยs de facto support. ยWe havenยt asked the governor for an endorsement,ย Henry says, and then makes the startling declaration that Hilleary has. ยHeยs gone to see him three times in the last year asking for an endorsement,ย Henry asserts confidently, not saying where he gets his information, though, from the sound of it, it would almost have to come from Sundquist himself.
The claim, which Henry had made a point of vending in a Thursday afternoon visit to Legislative Plaza, is almost certain to draw a rejoinder fromHilleary– the same Hilleary who always spends much of his time on the stump dissing the governor with the Income tax albatross around his neck (though not by name).
What Henry clearly wants to avoid is being bracketed too publicly with Sundquist and Alexander, but he plainly wouldnยt mind reaping the benefits of the association. Henry expresses confidence that the extra turnout that will happen on August 1st because of the heated Senate race will benefit him and not Hilleary, but he has to be wondering, which way the Young Turk volatility of the Bryant rebellion will boil.
For better or for worse, there will be some kind of linkage between the recently dormant gubernatorial race and the newly explosive one for the Senate. He– and we– will likely find out what it is soon enough– over the next six weeks, say..