Tennessee Republicans have huge cash advantage over Democrats

[ellisonz]

published Monday, February 6th, 2012
by Andy Sher

NASHVILLE — After easily outpacing legislative Democrats and the state Democratic Party in fundraising throughout 2011, Tennessee Republicans are sitting atop a huge, 3-to-1 cash advantage over their rivals, filings show.

Fueled by the fundraising power of a GOP-led General Assembly and a Republican governor for the first time since 1869, the GOP has created a financial juggernaut to boost already impressive legislative majorities.

Financial disclosures filed last week with the state show the GOP collectively sitting on a $3.2 million campaign war chest as of Jan. 15. That includes the House and Senate Republican caucuses, leaders’ personal campaign accounts, top leadership PACs and the state Republican Party.

That compares to about $770,000 cash in hand for Democrats.

More: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/06/tennessee-republicans-have-huge-cash-advantage-ove/

Why aren't we more competitive in states like Tennessee?

[JustAnotherGen]

1. The Republicans

Have won the cultural war there?

I have a good friend raised in Long Island NY, worked for Lazio directly out of college, got laid off from BMI when she was 28, laid off from another company at 31 - and promptly became a Democratic. In Nashville, in her neighborhood at least? 2008 was the year of Obama. Nashville will go Obama - but not so sure about the rest of the state . . . But, Nashville also has a lot of north east transplants.

[ellisonz]

2. This gives some idea of the political geography.

Bob Corker Harold Ford, Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 929,911 879,976
Percentage 50.71% 47.99%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Tennessee,_2006

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Michele

Was heart broken that Ford lost. She campaigned so hard for him.