Gov. Phil Bredesen (D-TN) endorses Obama for President

[TornadoTN]

This is great news, as he has remained neutral this entire process until recently. He is urging unity and pushing for Hillary supporters to back Obama in our state to put it in play. He's been a good governor (not without fault) and many people like and respect him. He has done a lot for the Democratic party in the state and he's been a good introduction back to the Democratic party for this state after years of Republican mismanagement.

Tennessee is going to be in play, mark my words. Along with VA, NC, and GA.


http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0608/Bredesen_to_endorse_Obama_tomorrow.html

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=8429988

[anonymous171]

1. Obama should pay special attention to TN. I would love to see him give the finger to the TNGOP.

[ingac70]

2. Yay Phil!. Now...

Get yer ass to TN and campaign, Barack Obama!

[TornadoTN]

3. He'll be right across the state line in Bristol, VA tommorrow

I'll be there, as its only a 20 minute drive for me. Can't wait.

He can win Tennessee. Harold Ford, Jr. did nothing to stir the Democrats with his "more of the same" campaign, plus there was little difference between he and Corker on the main issues.

[ingac70]

4. Not to mention...

the Ford family "problems".

I'm 30 min. to the NW of Nashville, so it is too far for me. :(

[predfan]

5. He should hit barbeque joints, hamburger suppers,

stay off college campuses and out of Nashville...........he'll get those votes anyway...he's got to be "one of us"

[MattNC]

6. I wouldn't count on

him making too many stops in Tennessee.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. I've always argued that TN is in play.

My understanding is that you guys have Early Voting, right? Well, much of the Hillary victory can be attributed to EV. I think TN, GA, SC, VA and NC are in play!!

[TornadoTN]

9. Yes, we have early voting and yes it trended Hillary

I worked the polls on primary day and it was utterly amazing to see number of youth and first time voters. Even people that have not voted in a long time were coming out in full force. All of these demographics broke to Obama in my region (Knoxville to Bristol). The early voting numbers skew older workers, nearing retirement or senior citizens, which certainly was very much in Hillary's favor.

Beyond that, the TNGOP is having a hard time motivating anyone, even in the most red areas of the state. It's also worth noting that the typical Republican voter wasn't enamored with Huckabee or McCain during the election.

[tnlefty]

10. I noticed in the chattanoogan yesterday efforts are being made to

begin a "Women for McCain" group in the Chattanooga area. I've been considering attending a meeting just so I can see how many crazy women there are in this area.:rofl:

[TornadoTN]

11. Expect to see a lot of that - especially here in TN

In years past, being a woman hasn't been a badge of honor in Tennessee politics. It's all about the "good ole' boys".

When the Democrats started making inroads leading up to the election of Gov. Bredesen, many womens groups started appearing that sought to give women more of an active role in their government aside from voting for their husbands told them to vote for. It has been a great success in Democratic politics across the state and given rise to an influx of younger women voters and more involved in the political process.

Now that there's a perceived rift in the Democratic Party with regards to gender following Hillary's defeat, they (the GOP) are trying to capitalize on this (whether real or unreal)by uniting under the same banner. It's an important lesson on Republican politics in general - they use people (minorities, veterans, women) only when it can help them and then they quickly toss them aside when their done. This rule of thumb applies across the country, but nowhere else does it fit more aptly than in this state. Sadly - far too many people fall for it.

[tnlefty]

14. The women in the local Pachyderm Club have always been a

vile, hateful bunch but I think there will be more of a push back this time. Starting with why would any woman support a man who calls his wife a c#^* and we'll proceed to beat them over their heads with this stuff.

This may have to become a special project of my local women's club.

[TornadoTN]

18. The local club here has been trying to use the old stand-by "Women obey your Husbands, forgive him"

It's puzzling logic because no one is buying it other than the fundies, and even then it's specious at best.

[Alter Ego]

20. Georgia will depend greatly on how big the Bob Barr factor is.

If he can steal a few percent from McOldasdirt it might just force him to defend the state.

[TornadoTN]

21. Last I saw, Barr was approaching the 10-14% range

If that's the case and the Atlanta & Savannah areas turn out in record numbers, Obama could very well take Georgia.

At the very least, it makes McCain pay attention to areas that should normally be "safe" for his party that is on life-support.

[Alter Ego]

22. Almost makes me think I should throw ol' Bob a few bucks

to keep his saboteur campaign going.

The best thing would be for him and Dr. Ron "GOLD STANDARD, MOTHERF**KERS!" Paul to ally on the same ticket. Paul and Barr are both anti-war but so wrong on everything else it's not even funny--and I think that if they drew away all the Paulite Republicans from Gramps he'd have a real tough time.

[TornadoTN]

24. Barr is more reasonable on civil liberties, Paul is just a moron

What people saw in Paul, I'll never know, but he's certainly fractured the GOP vote enough to where it will definitely be felt in November.

[Alter Ego]

25. As isolated as it was, Paul was really the first Republican

to run any kind of decent Internet campaign. Hell, half his support came from drippy Internet nerds who fancied themselves "social libertarians" because that's what they think is edgy.

[ingac70]

8. kicking.

[Kokonoe]

12. The republicans own everything we see or hear in TN

And the first thing we see on the morning news, is the latest political photo shop.

The key to winning TN, is to figure out our republican in laws.

[TornadoTN]

13. That's true to an extent

In general yes, we have to get past the media which is no small task. Or take the battle to them and force them to report on things that they can no long overlook.

WJHL-TV in Johnson City has started changing its tune after people started asking hard questions of them and questioning their reporting. WCYB-TV in Bristol has been bleeding viewers, so their having to get a little more controversial about their portrayal of the status quo.

Those are just two examples in the reddest area of the state. Newspapers are a different animal but doable if you have a dedicated group of people keeping the pressure up. Beyond that, it's only going to take a candidate and his/her campaign to pay attention to the state to get its attention. We've been slighted for years (even Al Gore didn't pay much attention to his home state and many felt slighted by it) but the tides are shifting as the voting demographics change and people grow tired of the same-ole Republican values.

[Kokonoe]

15. TN is the wheel of the south (according to map)

This is a battle of media.

Are the local MSM willing to bet their jobs that McCain will win.
The blatherer will be the first to go.

[Eurobabe]

16. One of my friends says he would love to see Bredesen as VP

I don't know that much about the Gov. other than he is a scholar, an artist and an avid outdoorsman. And I think he has helped turn around the economy of TN.

Any thoughts?

[TornadoTN]

17. Bredesen would be a very capable VP

He's a very personable guy and doesn't fit the usual image of a politician. He is very reserved and prefers to talk to people in small settings, one on one.

I've had the occasion to speak with many times in my job and he's probably one of the most approachable and observant people (not just politicians) that I have ever met. He doesn't have the air of of supremacy that so many politicians display (on either side). Plus he works very well across party lines and is a shrewd negotiator. He is extremely intelligent (Degree in Physics from Harvard) and is a very solid businessman. He does not accept his salary as Governor due to his wealth, instead donating back to the state to be used to fund social programs. He won reelection in 2006 in the most lop-sided victory in TN history and carried each county in the state.

That being said, he does have some drawbacks. He is not an attack dog, as many expect the VP to be. His speaking manner can be hard to follow sometimes because he doesn't use emotion to convey his message to a great extent. TennCare is always a touchy subject in the state and some feel he didn't do enough to keep it funded completely. However, the changes he made ensured that ALL children would have healthcare in the state and the severely ill uninsured could seek coverage under CARETENNESSEE. When it comes to health care, Bredesen has more hands on experience than anyone else (including Hillary).

[Eurobabe]

19. That's basically what my friend said

re: HealthCare. I wonder why he hasn't gotten any mention? Lack of FP experience?

[TornadoTN]

23. He's being mentioned by the people that count, I can assure you

A high placed source in my company loves Bredesen and meets with him and his commerce people often. He told me that the idea has been brought up in passing and that there has been some contact inquiring his interest if it was offered.

In 2004, Bredesen was considered to be a Presidential candidate after the 04 debacle. He contracted Lyme disease afterwards and spent some time in the hospital, which kept him from making an early push. He has done admirably cutting off Republican attempts to undermine his agenda - he has the first Republican Lt. Gov. since reconstruction thats been trying to thwart him at every turn, but Bredesen has cut it off and kept the government functioning on his terms. He's definitely on the radar, it's just that many people don't know his name due to his style - but I think that's an asset rather than a detriment.

[Eurobabe]

26. Outside the beltway type

just what Obama needs. :hi:

[sudopod]

27. The whole state is watching the Knox County government (R)

make asses of themselves. The Republican brand is damaged on a local level above and beyond what the shrub has inflicted.