Comments on: The Curious Case Of Sen. Andy Berke

By: jim voorhies

jim voorhies — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:24:43 +0000

As TVA said, it’s alternated since the late 70s, but before that Winfield Dunn was the only Republican governor since the 1920’s.

It alternated in the 50s and 60s but that was Ellington and Clement swapping out. Growing up, I though they were the only ones who could be governor.

By: newscoma

newscoma — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:50:12 +0000

I wish I’d been there. Dang Hoots! I’m digging Andy Berke. Been looking at his voting background.
A strong ground game, as LWC said, is important.

By: LeftWingCracker

LeftWingCracker — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:02:48 +0000

He also needs to build a strong ground game, a la Obama, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s what our little meeting last week may be leading towards.

Not, mind you, that that is a bad thing at all.

By: Sean Braisted

Sean Braisted — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:53:04 +0000

Trends are broken all the time…we are a pattern seeking animal, so we get comfort in them even if they aren’t applicable to current situations.

As per ACK’s prediction that Haslam will be the next Governor, I think he puts too much stock in the money angle. While its true that the person with the most campaign funds typically wins, its also true that this is because donors generally go with a winner. When you are talking about a self-financer, that rule is diminished.

Andy Berke isn’t Barack Obama, but there are some parallels. If he can raise enough money to get his message out, there is a good chance the people of Tennessee will buck the East TN Republican establishment and opt for a fresh face that has the areas of emphasis that the people want (as personified in the Democratic Party’s values), but at the same time a somewhat fresh break from the current administration.

By: newscoma

newscoma — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:25:15 +0000

Thanks. That answers my question.

By: Tennessee Values Authority

Tennessee Values Authority — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:55:53 +0000

“but I’m wondering how long our state has gone two terms democrat, two terms Republican?”

That has been the trend since the election of Lamar Alexander in 1978. From 1954 to 1978, the Tennessee constitution limited the governor to a single 4-year term.

Alexander was the first governor elected under the new constitution allowing a governor up to two 4-year terms. Since then, every governor elected has also been re-elected to a second term and the party affiliation has alternated back and forth between the two major parties.

Alexander (R) — 1979-1987
McWherter (D) — 1987-1995
Sundquist (R) — 1995-2003
Bredesen (D) — 2003-2011