Holy Shit! For anyone who has been paying attention to the Special Election in TN next week, or reading Gayle Jordan, the Democratic candidate’s diaries here at DK, you know that she’s been attacked by the TN Lt. Governor for being one of the most “dangerous candidates” he’s seen in his 40 years.
There was much speculation as to why he was bothering himself with this little, off the map, special election. This is pretty solid red territory, so why would he expend energy on it? Especially when the Legislature, which he presides over, is in session. Doesn’t he have more important things to do?
Turns out my guess about his motives might be the right answer. Rumour is, that Republican polling (Gayle doesn’t have the money to poll) shows it’s a very close race. (I am dancing while I type!)
Seems the Democrats are very enthusiastic about this race, especially following so closely after Democrat Mary Alice Carfi’s narrow loss (by only 308 votes) in the 17th district, which is every bit as red as the 14th State Senate District Gayle Jordan is running in.
The Republicans are so panicked they are bringing in the big guns.
The Shane Reeves campaign announced Tuesday that Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a candidate for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, and Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) will host a rally Saturday morning, March 10, for Republican Shane Reeves to help build momentum for the State Senate District 14 special election candidate.
“We need a conservative businessman in Nashville who will stand with President Trump here in Tennessee. Shane will represent well the values and beliefs of the 14th district and I look forward to showing my support for him on Saturday in Murfreesboro,” Blackburn added.
“Having known Shane for over six years, I’m confident he will immediately contribute to the legislative process bringing an expansive knowledge of business and healthcare to the table,” Rep. DesJarlais, who is seeking re-election to his seat in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, said. Tennessee Star
But… that’s not even the good part of this story!
The TN Republican Party is having a good ole internal Hatfield vs. McCoy's feud. Unbelievable as it sounds, there is a faction of the Republican Party that doesn’t think Shane Reeves is conservative enough. (I know, I can hardly wrap my brain around it either.)
Steve Lane, a prominent Republican in the district, is "calling on all Republicans and Libertarians in the 14th Senate district to protest vote for Democrat Gayle Jordan...” He has various reasons for this, some pretty whacky as you might expect, you can read them all here.
Who really cares what his reasons are? He’s telling Republicans to vote for the Democrat.
If you are a Republican or Libertarian that is sitting out voting in this race, I urge you to consider lodging a protest vote for Gayle Jordan instead.
I know Conservatives in particular are tired of “holding their noses” and “voting for the lesser of 2 evils”.
I urge you to do it one last time though. Hold your nose and protest vote for the lesser of 2 evils.
Vote for Gayle Jordan.
It could be working too. Even though we don’t register by party here in TN, there are records of which party we voted for, or which primary we voted in. One insider who wishes to remain anonymous, said that in early voting, more Republicans have been voting than Democrats, about 60/40. Some of them must be voting for Gayle because the results are so close, way closer than 60/40!
Some Republicans say they are leaving the Party to vote for Gayle. As I said in the beginning, Holy Shit!!