Super PAC spending hits Tennessee

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 2/26/12 | Michael Collins

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON — The political ad wars are coming to Tennessee, courtesy of the big money groups that are dumping millions of dollars into the GOP presidential race.

Restore Our Future, a group backing Mitt Romney's campaign, has bought nearly $1 million worth of radio and TV airtime for an ad blasting GOP rival Rick Santorum as "the ultimate Washington insider." The 30-second spot began running statewide last Tuesday and will continue airing right up to Election Day on March 6.

The ad marks the first spending in Tennessee by so-called "super PACs," the new breed of political action committees that can raise — and spend — unlimited amounts of money to influence presidential and congressional races.

More super PAC money is expected to flood into Tennessee over the next week, as the fundraising groups shift their focus to states with Super Tuesday primaries.

"None of these campaigns have a huge amount of ground forces, so the tendency is to decide what your next targets are and do sort of a blitz in the week or 10 days before a primary," said Bruce Oppenheimer, a Vanderbilt University political science professor who studies elections.

Ohio and Tennessee are likely to be the two Super Tuesday states with the most highly contested primaries, so both will almost certainly see a lot of spending by super PACs in the coming days, Oppenheimer said.

Tennessee 'makes lot of sense'

The fact that Restore Our Future already has dumped $916,000 into Tennessee in support of Romney is a sign the state is up for grabs, Oppenheimer said.

"They are going after Tennessee in a big way, and they see that as a state they could potentially win in the South," he said.

[Cindy of Nashville]

Fred Thompson is supporting Newt Gingrich. That should be all any Tennessean needs to know when deciding who to vote for. Go Newt!!

[hoosiermama]

NEWT LIST PING

[CainConservative]

Romney’s camp sure are big spenders.

Willard’s liberal goons could spend $9 million in Tennessee and would still lose by double digits to Rick or Newt.

[hoosiermama]

Looks like Mitt is swinging wildly at Rick in Tenn. Should be good for Newt. Do you know Newt’s game plan on the ground?

[eyedigress]

I’ve seen his ads.....Attack Attack.....I saved the Olympics.....Attack Attack.....I had a balanced budget.....Attack Attack.

Get the hell out of here Romney.

[Cindy of Nashville]

THis is all I know so far. Also he will be in Chattanooga next. We are going to try and see him here in Nashville tomorrow,

Gingrich’s Nashville Visit Schedule
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s campaign has provided a schedule of events during his trip to Nashville on Monday. A campaign spokesman says all seats are taken at the events except for the “town hall rally,” which is open to the public.

Here’s the schedule:
10:00 a.m. Health Care Roundtable
Baker Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Law Offices
211 Commerce Street, Suite 800
Nashville, TN 37201

12:00 noon First Tuesday Luncheon
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis Law Offices
Nashville City Center
511 Union Street, Suite 2700
Nashville, Tennessee 37219

2:30 p.m. General Media Availability
Old Supreme Court Chamber
600 Charlotte Avenue
Nashville, TN 37219

3:00 p.m. Tennessee Town Hall Rally
State Capitol East Front
600 Charlotte Avenue
Nashville, TN 37219

Callista Gingrich To Speak to TN Chapter of Women With Newt

4:10-4:30 PM
Location: State Capitol
Legislative Plaza
Room LP 16
600 Charlotte Avenue
Nashville, TN 37219

[CainConservative]

He has no chance.

Santorum top choice of 46% of Ohio #TeaParty in Cincinnati area. #Gingrich 31%, both #Romney & #Paul 11.5% #ohgop #tngop #migop #azgop

[CainConservative]

And Willard is even worse off in TN.

[Ingtar]

Fred is also now supporting doing away with the Electoral College. Does that mean we Tennesseans should all support that as well?

[CainConservative]

http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/207831/2/Rick-Santorum-leads-big-in-TN-poll-finds?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Ingtar]

Romney is trying to move from 2nd to 1st. I guess Newt is trying to get into second, ahead of the loser of Romney/Santorum.

The latest Tennessee poll (16-22):

Santorum 38%
Romney 20%
Paul 15%
Gingrich 13%
Undecided 13%

[katiedidit1]

Have been very busy blogging on Tea Party sites in various states for Newt. Guess I better get on the Tenn site too.

Newt supporters better use twitter, facebook and answer news blogs to get the message out..it is so crucial for Newt to win the south. I have found a lot of ammo on Free Republic and on Newt.org to fully arm me for slams lol. Have spent time I don't really have in fighting so hard for Gingrich. Please go all over the internet and get the word out...stop the attacks and spread the truth. One guy is even asking Sara Palin to endorse Newt and gave a great list of reasons why we need him. He did it on her facebook site.

I have run into a bunch of Paul supporters but they are helping Romney and just got into a knock down drag out exchange with two of them. Paulbots are on the Tea Party sites. Anyway...fight hard! join some Tennessee sites and fire away!

[hoosiermama]

Not sure that Paulbots are what they appear to be. Helping Romney, Attaching Newt Attacking Rick. Think they all are Rat Plant.

Stay strong. Fight the Fight cheerfully.

[duffee]

rollwage and I will be at the 10:00 am Health Care Roundtable and at the 3:00 pm Tennessee Town Hall Rally at the Capitol. We are former Tennessee residents who have been in North Mississippi for the past 10 years.