Along with Chris McDaniel in MS and Richard Cash in SC, state Representative Joe Carr of TN is a Tea Party challenger to a GOP Senator that deserves our support, since he is qualified, experienced, far more conservative than the incumbent, and would win the general election handily. Senator Lamar Alexander is far less conservative than incumbent Senators for whose heads many FReepers have (or had) been calling, such as Pat Roberts of KS, Mitch McConnell of KY, John Cornyn of TX and Mike Enzi of WY, and Joe Carr has a proven conservative record and is a much better overall candidate than the proffered “Tea Party alternatives” in KS, KY, TX and WY.
Joe Carr has a tough row to hoe in order to beat Alexander and claim the GOP Senate nomination (and thus the Senate seat). There are six other Republicans running in the primary, so the anti-Alexander vote could be diluted if conservatives don’t coalesce around Carr; unlike in, say, SC, where job-one is to hold Lindsey Graham under 50% and force a run-off, TN does not have a run-off when the first-place finisher gets below 50% of the vote, so Carr won’t get a second bite at the apple and needs to get more votes than Alexander in the primary to defeat him. Fortunately, the TN primary isn’t until August 7, so Carr has plenty of time to catch up to Alexander and pull off the upset. For that to occur, however, we need all hands on deck. Joe Carr is one candidate on which all FReepers should be able to agree, and he needs your help in order not to get swamped by Alexander’s money.
There are a lot of FReepers who have seen their preferred candidates lose in gubernatorial, Senate and House primaries so far this cycle (myself included). Well, you can adopt Joe Carr as your new favorite. You know those $20 you were going to send to your preferred candidate who didn’t make it? Send it to Joe Carr’s campaign—he can beat Alexander if he improves his fundraising, and won’t be able to beat him if he doesn’t, so your dollars will have more of an impact in the TN Senate race than practically anywhere else.
Unlike many electoral goals for which we may wish from time to time, beating Lamar Alexander is both worthwhile and achievable. Let’s get it done. http://www.carrfortn.com/
The Tea Party candidates seem to be weak and underfunded. Everything they do is guaranteed to be mocked or ignored by the media. It would be great if some of the conservative talk show hosts championed Carr. Levin dislikes Alexander and Corker, but he doesn’t talk about Carr, a solid conservative Alexander challenger.
I don’t know why any of the well known conservative TN politicians didn’t challenge Alexander for the good of the country. Did he “pay” them all off early in some way? Marsha Blackburn is on Alexander’s reelection committee and that seems fishy. What a disgrace and disappointment she turned out to be. What happened to Ed Bryant? He seemed like a “solid” conservative, ran for Senate, lost and then disappeared.
I guess I’m a “purist” because I am tired of voting for these self serving political hacks.
Yes yes yes.
I’m not optimistic in SC though, not only does Cash have to contend with the unelectable (over Graham in the runoff) Lee Bright, but Nancy Mace and Bill O’Connor too.
Cash is living up to his name however, he has more of it than Bright, Mace, or any candidate other than Graham. I hope he’s turning that money into what he needs, name recognition.