Kerry needs to talk to Bredesen

[TNDemo]

and find out how a transplanted northerner managed to swing East Tennessee to vote democratic and put a democratic governor in place a couple of years ago. Having Middle and West Tennessee go blue is pretty easy but East Tennessee is a hard section to pull to the left. He managed to do it and maybe Kerry could pick up some pointers from Bredesen about how it is done.

[bluestateguy]

1. I'm not optimistic about Tennessee

If Al Gore could not win it, why would they vote for a Democrat from Massachusetts? Bredesen was a known commodity who had proven himself as a Mayor. I like Kerry's chances in Arkansas, Louisiana or even Virgina better than Tennessee. I would only target Tennessee if Kerry was up 10 points in the national polls.

[TNDemo]

2. Bush got 51% and Gore got 47% in 2000.

That's not a very wide margin. I think Tennessee is definitely in play.

[Lars39]

3. Who knows what Gore's actual vote count was in TN in 2000, there

were also voting and counting shenanigans going on here. I also voted touch screen here for the first time in 2000. :shrug:

[Mr Switters]

4. Tennessee is very much in play!

We carried Clinton BOTH times he was elected, granted that isn't saying much considering both victories were pretty much landslides nationwide, but the margin on Gore v. Bush was too close to consider Tenn a loss in 2004.

People are quick to write off Tenn because we didn't carry Gore as his "home" state. I never considered Gore a hometown guy.

I'm encouraged every day by the number of Kerry bumper stickers I see floating around Knox County. We have a chance here, we just have to mobilize the vote, register new voters and have a consistent presence at all public events. Support for Bush is fashionable in Tenn, and now that supporting Bush is becoming a sign of a personal character flaw I think you will start to see many people drop Bush faster than Casey Clausen dropping snaps in a rainy Florida football game!

[NashVegas]

5. Bredesen v Van Hilary

As conservative as Tennessee is, Bredesen won the election because he gave off the vibe of someone who has a plan, or an idea of a direction he wanted to get the state moving in, and was offering leadership. Hilary gave off the vibe of someone who was running soley to keep the other guy from winning.

That's what Kerry has to figure out. Keep in mind, Bush has a plan and everyone knows it, but no one dares say it out loud.

[CoonDawg]

7. Bredesen isn't a knight in shining armor...

but when he was mayor here in Nashville, he was very instrumental in revitalizing 2nd avenue and several other really good programs. My wife and I both strongly supported him in his bid for governor.

I think TN is very in play. I think that many didn't vote for Gore because they were soured on him and he didn't seem to have a very good plan. I also heard lots of negative things about his father and the legacy that he had.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dbackjon]

8. Will Edwards help in East Tennessee?

Would have started this as a separate thread, but as a newbie I am not allowed......

[Claire Beth]

9. There were lots of people....

who liked Edwards. He sure won't *hurt* east TN.

Welcome to DU!!!! Would you like me to start a new thread on this topic for you?