TennesseeTicket.com

Much more steam seems to be building behind the "draft Beth Harwell for Governor" effort than I would have predicted at this stage. Who's not telling us something? For now, I'm leaving her in limbo as a potential candidate on the Senate and the Governor pages. I think the "draft Beth" movement is so strong because there are a number of GOPers in the state who are unwilling to follow their head honchos' game plan (i.e., the plan of staying out of Bredesen's way and concentrating solely on the Senate race). That's not to say that they'll get what they want (just like they also might not get Ed Bryant as their Senate nominee).

I received my first e-mail from the Rosalind Kurita campaign, and I have just one question. Will I have to forego any and all of her campaign events, even if they come to Chattanooga (I'm assuming they will)? I'm not against lawful gun ownership, but I am not comfortable hanging around anywhere there are loaded firearms, especially if they are being discharged! Here's an excerpt from the campaign e-mail:

On her way to a speech in McMinn County, Kurita stopped off in Tellico Plains to shoot skeet - her favorite sport. She's planning a skeet shooting tour of Tennessee throughout the summer and fall.

I would have guessed that she was planning a campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for the United States Senate. Shows you what I know.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. won't be coming to Chattanooga on Monday as had been planned. The local partisans were duking it out yesterday over whether he's fit to represent them on the ticket. They're talking about it up in the Nashville scene, from Dems and non-Dems (via Jay who, of late, is less blogging for Bryant and more blogging against Ford/Corker -- a sign of doubt about his candidate?).

Meanwhile, Bill Hobbs joins B4B in turning the hose on Van Hilleary. These comments, and the fact that VH's sole cheerlearder (Chrystal) seems to have been "taken up," tell me that his campaign is pretty well doused, even though I have no doubt that voters in the GOP primary will have to step around the wreckage on the ballot. Too bad, because even though I don't like VH's politics, I thought that "Jump" album was pretty good, and that goofy guitar with all the tape on it is rad, man. Not to kick him while he's down, but here are some more thoughts from smijer.

There will be more to come in a couple of weeks or so, after all of the Independence Day events.