Republicans Face Off for Frist's Seat (In early returns, Corker leads)

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060804/D8J9B4U00.html

Republicans Face Off for Frist's Seat
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Aug 3, 10:34 PM (ET)

By BETH RUCKER

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Three Republicans, each with multimillion-dollar war chests, were concluding a bitter primary campaign Thursday as voters decided whom the party will nominate to replace Sen. Bill Frist.

The fundraising leader was Bob Corker, a former Chattanooga mayor and state finance commissioner who lost a previous Senate race to Frist in 1994. He raised $6.6 million and added more than $2 million of his own money.

His opponents were former Reps. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, both elected to Congress as part of the Republican Revolution of 1994. Each raised about $2.2 million, and could divide the most conservative voters in the primary.

Frist, who is stepping down to mull a presidential bid, did not endorse a candidate in the GOP primary.

In early returns, Corker took the lead. With 6 percent of precincts reporting, he had 52,548, or 56 percent of the vote, to Bryant's 25,485, or 27 percent of the vote. Hilleary had 14,565 or 16 percent.

The winner will most likely face Rep. Harold Ford Jr., who has no serious Democratic primary opposition and is hoping to become the first black U.S. senator elected in the South since Reconstruction.

Tennessee hasn't elected a Democratic senator in 16 years.

Ford had 59,909, or 80 percent of the vote. Gary Davis was in second place among Democrats with 7,122, or 10 percent.

Bryant and Hilleary have questioned Corker's conservative credentials, criticizing him for changing his stance on abortion.

During his unsuccessful Senate campaign in 1994, Corker said he was personally opposed to abortion, but didn't believe it was a government issue. He now says he opposes abortion rights.

[struggle4progress]

1. I do hope the Publicans run Mr. Bill for President, cuz we'll squish him.

"Oooh noooo ..."

[Tippy]

3. Think maybe we can take both Frist and Lamar out in "08"? n/t

[struggle4progress]

4. "No apologies for lynching" Lamar?

... Tennessee ranks sixth in the nation in the number of lynchings behind Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama ... Lynchings occurred in seventy Tennessee counties. Shelby County ranked first in the state with 18, and Obion County was second with 17. The largest documented group lynching took place in August 1894 in Shelby County, where six men accused of arson were lynched. Davidson County recorded three lynchings, Hamilton County four, and Knox County one during the same period. Local newspapers frequently described a spectacle or celebratory atmosphere that accompanied lynchings. Announcements and promotions of lynchings prior to their occurrence were printed in newspapers or spread by word of mouth via railroad conductors. The Memphis Press declared the burning of prisoner Henry Lowery "an outstanding lynch success." (1) Tennessee's "greatest lynching carnival" was held in Memphis in May 1917 when Ell Person, the allegedly confessed ax-murderer of a sixteen-year-old white girl, was burned to death in the presence of fifteen thousand men, women, and little children ... http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=L060

Thursday, 06/16/05
Alexander didn't back lynching apology
Senator among 16 who didn't sign on as sponsor
By MIKE MADDEN
Tennessean Washington Bureau
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050616/NEWS02/506160421

[fasttense]

2. Nice to see that Richard Roberts lost the primary for

Jenkins old Congressional seat. Roberts was running adds so pro-bushes that it made me scream every time I heard them. I couldn't believe a republic would actually stand by their liar in chief now a days. I thought I was really out of touch with the political leanings of TN. Every local station ran his "I support pResident bush" ads. Not to mention that the middle class people here in my rural area all supported him. Every Sunday for the last two months, at least one member of our small congregation handed me a pro-Roberts/bushes flier. But now I realize it wasn't me who was out of touch but my neighbors. Now how can I bring up Roberts' loss during bible study?

[Imagevision]

5. either way, at last, Frist will be gone...2 b sure!!