The video above shows clips from local TV news coverage of Saturday’s Grow Tennessee dinner and straw poll. It’s a good introduction to Tennessee’s 5 Democratic Gubernatorial candidates.
You can watch full coverage of this event on WTVF (5) and WSMV (4).
You can read about it in the Murfreesboro Post, Daily News Journal (here and here), Nashville Scene, Nashville City Paper, Clarksville Online, Tennessean, and MTSU Sidelines.
The results are in from Saturday’s straw poll of Democratic candidates for Governor of Tennessee in Murfreesboro. All five Democratic candidates spoke to a sold-out audience at MTSU’s Tennessee Ballroom.
- Sen. Roy Herron - 119
- Sen. Jim Kyle - 81
- Kim McMillan - 58
- Mike McWherter - 32
- Ward Cammack - 13
- Undecided - 12
Here is what blogs from across the state of Tennessee are saying about the straw poll:
I believe Bredesen was the clear front runner by this time in 2001. Despite this result, there doesn’t yet seem to be one for this primary. Kyle has only just started campaigning. McMillan had a stronger showing than many might have expected, especially McWherter. Makes you wonder if the McWherter name is all that familiar to the younger voters coming into the party.
What this means, the long answer: I was rather surprised by McWherter’s poor showing. The main criticism of straw poll-type events is that the results are unreliable because campaigns can just bring in a ton of supporters to skew the results. Yet it did seem, to me at least, that McWherter did have quite a few supporters there. I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially given that we know he can raise the money, but he does seem rather awkward on the stump.
I can see Herron contiuing to do well in the rural areas, but he will get bupkis in Shelby County; only McWherter, if any one, can make a dent in the lockdown Jim Kyle has achieved here in a short period of time. Kyle’s great showing in the Boro will cause others outside Big Shelby to take another look at him. Now, The Boro is in the fifth most populous county in Tennessee, so this is a significant showing for Roy, and suggests the Battle of Weakley County will not be going away any time soon.
Roy Herron won the Rutherford County Democrats’ straw poll Saturday. That’s surprising in itself, but he also trounced Mike McWherter, the one most people see as the party’s strongest candidate for governor. McWherter finished behind even Kim McMillan. He’s always seemed like a dud to me, a guy capable of sucking the excitement right out of a room.
The results of the Rutherford County Democratic Straw poll are hardly scientific, but it sort of holds with my observations which is that Mike McWherter has failed entirely to inspire passion in his party activists. Yes, his name recognition might give him a lead in whatever polls are done, but for anyone engaged, its a lukewarm feeling at best…save the people who feel they “owe” Ned Ray one.
Last evening I attended the 1st Annual Rutherford County Grow Tennessee dinner. What a great event hosted by Rep. Kent & Cecil Coleman, Rep. John & Marilyn Hood, Sen. Andy & Cherry Womack, and Ms. Sandra Y. Trail and held at MTSU’s James Union Building. I truly must commend Jonathon Fagan, Chairman of the Rutherford Democratic Party, for doing an outstanding job.
One by one, the candidates were introduced and strode up to the podium to present speeches that were typically five minutes in length. Each delivered what I would assume were their basic stump speeches. This was a good approach, because the audience didn’t seem to be that familiar with any of them. Here’s my general impression of each speech.
BIG Congratulations to Senator Herron!!
Great event tonight, thank you to the Rutherford Co Dems for putting it on. Fantastic effort!
Mike looks like the big loooooser in this one
McMillan over McWherter. WOW!!!!!
WOW, this is HUGE. Kyle was the favorite on this one because of Andy Womack’s support. Herron not only upset Kyle, but McWherter’s showing was VERY surprising. Things like this are all about organization and sly strategy. Looks like Herron’s campaign has the edge in that department right now. Kyle got started late in this campaign, so he’s ok, but this should be a wake up call for McWherter. He needs an organized campaign and quick. Funding and name recognition aren’t going to cut it, especially in the general against a well-funded and nasty republican opponent.
It was nice to see all the news attention this introduction to the candidates got. I hope the media will cover Tennessee’s choices for governor so we don’t squander the state’s momentum. Herron’s strong showing was surprising to me. I’m undecided, but after seeing how he placed I’m taking a closer look at him. He came across as someone you can trust, but we need a governor you can count on to work for Tennesseans more than that. We still have time to decide, but the results tonight have given me a lot to think about. Good job RCDP!
[...] Roy Herron has emerged as a frontrunner in the first Democratic Gubernatorial straw poll for the 2010 primary race. Below are results from the straw poll that took place at the First Annual Grow Tennessee Dinner at [...]
Dear Doc,
Though I can understand your trepedation in the year ahead, I have to disagree with you whole-heartedly. Not only will Zach Wamp lose terribly in the Governor’s race, due to his inability to lead, not to mention his lack of abilities. We have Jim Kyle and Kim McMillan, who are both very qualified to run this state, not to mention, they have the Executive and Legislative experience to make the transition smoothly. Why don’t you grow a pair and man up. We will only lose if people like you just give up! What a disappointment!