So says the Metro Pulse:
This week Gordon, 60, announced he will not run for re-election. Coming on the heels of the retirement of U.S. Rep. John Tanner, it is a double blow for Democrats. The Democrats may be able to hang onto Tanner’s seat, depending on the viability of [...]
A message from the Tennessee Democratic Party:
With the recent announcements by Congressmen Bart Gordon and John Tanner that they were retiring from Congress at the end of their current terms, Tennessee Republicans are busy spinning their public relations machine into high gear. They are crisscrossing the state and the [...]
In the wake of the retirements of conservative Blue Dogs Rep. John Tanner and Rep. Bart Gordon speculation has naturally turned to the future of Rep. Lincoln Davis. Will he hang it up or stick it out one more time?
Davis is a Blue Dog just like Tanner and [...]
Some say it’s a bit weak:
The GOP source compared this to the other open Democratic seat in Tennessee, where Rep. John Tanner is retiring and where Dems immediately recruited state Sen. Roy Herron, saying that there isn’t a truly strong Democratic candidate here. “Unlike TN-08 [the Tanner seat], you [...]
Jackson Baker on the reaction of some Democrats to the retirements of John Tanner and Bart Gordon:
Some Democrats — especially in the blogging fraternity — have reacted to the withdrawals of Tanner and Gordon by saying, in effect, Good riddance, these weren’t real red-blooded Democrats anyhow.
That, of course, is [...]
From the desk of Chris Devaney:
“Like John Tanner, Bart Gordon can see the writing on the wall in 2010 and has chosen to step aside,” said Devaney. “Tennesseans are struggling with 10.5 percent unemployment and are looking to their elected leaders for common-sense solutions that will put help [...]
From Aaron Blake:
Gordon joins Reps. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Brian Baird (D-Wash.) in announcing his retirement in recent weeks. Also, Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) announced Friday that he will resign early to run for governor.
[...]This follows the earlier announcement that U.S. Rep. John Tanner would step down. The TN GOP has a rare opportunity for gains in Middle and West Tennessee, which would add to the party's bedrock lock on East TN. Republicans hold a 6 to 5 advantage in the [...]
Baird’s retirement plans follow similar announcements from Reps. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), and all three openings have created strong pickup opportunities for Republicans.
His decision came as a surprise to House Democrats, and will surely heat up the speculation that other vulnerable House Democrats are looking [...]
Amid some speculation in Tennessee Republican circles that farmer and gospel singer Stephen Fincher will get a primary challenge in the race to replace retiring Rep. John Tanner (D), the National Republican Congressional Committee gave their recruit a vote of confidence Thursday morning.
Fincher has impressed the committee enough [...]
From Josh Kraushaar:
According to the Amazon.com summary, Herron unapologetically defends government spending in the book — a tough sell in 2010, a time when the country is running trillion-dollar deficits.
By contrast, Tanner is a founder of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Democrats, and has railed against excessive federal spending during [...]
From the Dickson Herald:
Despite rumblings of Sen. Doug Jackson’s interest in running for Rep. John Tanner’s open seat in Congress, Jackson confirmed Monday morning that he has decided not to campaign for the position.
“The long and short of it is that we’ve made a decision not to run,” Jackson [...]
Newscoma looks at the chain reaction John Tanner may have set off by not seeking reelection:
The domino effect will also be into play regarding the 24th state senate seat. Who will seek the 24th if Roy were to win? If that person is already in office, and as an [...]
Tennessee politics can be a very interesting thing. This year we have seen the Jason Mumpower/Kent Williams hootenanny, a crowded race for governor on both sides of the spectrum (I’m not talking about that one) and this week’s hokey pokey with the announcement of John Tanner citing [...]
From a letter to supporters and contributors from State Sen. Roy Herron:
As you know, now that my longtime friend John Tanner has decided to retire from Congress, I have decided to run for Congress in the 8th District.
Thanks to you and many others, we have raised well over $900,000 [...]
Both Rep. Phillip Pinion and State Sen. Doug Jackson are talking like they are giving the race to replace Rep. John Tanner a real hard look:
Jackson, 55, said he’ll announce a decision on whether to run within days. Both he and Finney face re-election to their state Senate seats [...]
From an email blast:
“As we learn of John Tanner’s plans to retire, it is fitting to pause and honor John’s lifetime of service to this state and this nation.
As a young naval officer and as a National Guard colonel, as a member of the Tennessee General Assembly and the [...]
From the Stephen Fincher people:
“I want to thank Congressman Tanner and his wife Betty Ann for their service to our state and nation. But our mission has never been about John Tanner personally. Our mission is about saving our country for our children and grandchildren. It is about stopping [...]
Kim McMillan on the retirement of Rep. John Tanner and the decision by Roy Herron to cease running for governor and start running for Congress. From an email blast:
I would like to offer Senator Roy Herron and his wife my best wishes on his Congressional campaign in the 8th district. [...]
TNDP chair on the Tanner retirement:
“Congressman John Tanner is a statesman who represents his district well. His service to his district, his state and his country is above reproach. Although his leadership in Congress will be missed here in Tennessee when he retires next year, I respect John’s decision [...]
Ken Whitehouse reports that Rep. John Tanner is saying that his retirement had nothing to do with any fear of taking a loss in 2010:
The Republican Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington issued a statement saying that “rather than face Fincher and make tortured excuses for his liberal party’s [...]
From the inbox:
“As one of state’s most respected public servants, John Tanner has served his country and the people of the 8th congressional district with dignity, with honor, and with his characteristic true grit. His strong, yet compassionate leadership here and abroad will be sorely missed. But those of us [...]
State Senator Roy Herron officially abandons his gubernatorial bid to pursue the 8th District congressional seat in the wake of the retirement of John Tanner:
Today, I’m announcing my candidacy to represent Tennessee’s 8th District in the United States Congress.
I congratulate my long-time friend John Tanner for his service [...]
TNGOP Chairman Chris Devaney implies that the GOP would have beaten John Tanner had he not retired and that Roy Herron is in no better position:
“We wish him well, but Congressman Tanner’s decision really is no surprise,” said Devaney. “He knew he is was facing an uphill climb [...]
Where was Jim?