Edwards says he, Kerry can resonate in the state | Tennessean

[Ediacara]

Edwards says he, Kerry can resonate in the state

By BONNA de la CRUZ
Staff Writer

MEMPHIS — John Edwards, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee, says the race for Tennessee's 11 electoral votes will be ''very competitive'' between now and in November.

Four years ago, George W. Bush won Tennessee with 51% of the vote to native son Al Gore's 47%.

Edwards, a U.S. senator from North Carolina, spoke to The Tennessean during his first visit to Tennessee since getting the nod as Democratic nominee John Kerry's running mate.

He lived briefly in Nashville in the late 1970s and easily recalled the name of the street where he and his wife resided, Hemingway Drive, in Forest Hills.

More at the Tennessean

[BillZBubb]

1. Heck, they've got a shot in Tennessee!

I never thought I'd believe that, but it just might be true.

[Claire Beth]

2. actually Tennessee....

has a LOT of independent voters. They voted for Carter and also for Clinton in BOTH elections. There was some bitterness here about Gore which is why he did not carry the state BUT I have been hearing for over a year now from people who voted for Bush in 2000 but are NOT supporting him in the upcoming election. East TN is more heavily republican than any other area. Our governor is a democrat (originally from Massachusetts, btw.) and he is popular in ALL areas of the state. He has an 80 percent approval rating right now and this could be a great asset for the Kerry/Edwards campaign here. I see more Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers than I do the W's. That is a GOOD sign. :kick:

[redstateblues]

3. If John Kerry Came to TN and had a big rally the state would

be electrified. Phil Bredesen won by getting moderate repubs to cross over. It is possible to be competitive here.

[Claire Beth]

11. yup...you're right! n/t

[BillZBubb]

4. If Kerry wins Tennessee, it's all over!

Florida and Ohio won't even matter. I didn't know the Dem Governor was so popular. WOW!!!!

[indepat]

9. Just as Tennesseans turned Gore Sr. out of the Senate, voted for GWB

rather than for a favorite son in 2000, I have every confidence that a plurality, if not a majority, of Tennesseans will again vote for GWB, no matter how disastrous his record, no matter how detrimental his policies are to most Tennesseans, for it's hard for a Democratic presidential contender to overcome the mountain of closet racists, a large number of other racists, other religious fanatics, the gun nuts, the abortion nuts, not to mention an incredible number of apathetic, ignorant, and/or brain-dead, which together with the huge number of true-believers, make it highly improbable IMHO that Kerry/Edwards will win Tennessee. Hopefully, I am wrong.

[Claire Beth]

10. The last zogby poll....

had Kerry 48 percent and bush 46 percent. Another poll is exactly reversed but still it's CLOSE. I'm telling you, I live here and I hear from people who are VERY unhappy with Bush and most voted for GWB in 2000 and say they won't this time. Tennessee is definitely up for grabs and if nothing else it will cause GWB to spend money here that they had NOT planned to have to spend. Bush thought TN was a SURE win - - come to find out, it is NOT! :kick:

[SEpatriot]

5. I would really like to see it happen

I spent 5 years in TN (College and working in legislature). I talked to a close friend there on Friday and he said that TN can definitely go for Kerry, that many people are not even talking to the pollsters, but are very mad at the shrub administration.

Last Zogby poll shows Kerry at 49.3% and shrub at 47.5%:

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-battleground04.html

I am strongly considering packing up the family and heading to TN to campaign if this trend continues - Alabama's already solidly shrub country.

[peacebuzzard]

6. Come on up! There is a strong grass roots movement in the air...

I walk around every day on my days off with my Kerry/Edwards tshirts and I get lots of comments: "I like your shirt!" from the banker, grocery store clerk, liquor store cashier, everywhere I go. My neighbor is counting votes and running his own drumming up support, and he is normally a very quiet, go about life and work guy. People here are certainly stirring uneasily w/ this admin, and the fundies are insanely mad. My Kerry yard signs get routinely stolen, and I now have to buy more. I agree, if Kerry/Edwards visits this state for a rally, it will light a fire. I think this state might possibly go democratic. Very very close.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. Tenn, Arkansas, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Florida....

are all in play this time as is Virginia.

[Ediacara]

8. Don't forget

Ohio, Arizona, and Colorado!