Daily Dose for March 13, 2007

Daily Dose

Duncan Would Change Endorsement to Thompson -- Congressman Jimmy Duncan said he would change his endorsement if Fred Thompson got into the Presidential fray in 2008. Duncan endorsed Mitt Romney for president less than two weeks ago, but says he might jump ship on Romney if Thompson continues to express interest in the run. Duncan: "If Fred Thompson gets in there, then I definitely would support him...He's been a long-time friend. I know him a whole lot better than I know Gov. Romney." The other Tennessee Congressman to endorse Romney, Marsha Blackburn, would not comment on changing her endorsement because Thompson is not yet in the race. The pundits agree that Thompson's entry is unlikely at this point, but former Sen. Bill Frist is also jumping on the bandwagon. Frist posted to his VolPAC blog: "Fred understands real people and they understand him. He understands the legislative process and has a strong bipartisan appeal, though he is a real conservative. He has the experience of government service with a real appreciation for all three branches of government. He is a commonsense leader." Also, the Tennessee Democratic Party has picked up their hits on Fred, saying he's not registered to vote in Tennessee. See also the City Paper.

Two Upsets Brewing in Memphis Special Elections? -- Two elections are happening today in Memphis and Republicans have turned what should have been an electoral rubber stamp into an actual contest, with talk that there might be a few upsets. In Senate district 30, a district formerly belonging to Steve Cohen, Republican Larry Parrish is facing Beverly Marrero. The district isn't as notoriously Democratic as one would think - about 60-40 in favor of the Democrats, which could prove problematic for Republicans as white Democrats mobilize voters for Marrero. The real upset, though, would be House District 92, where Democrat G.A. Hardaway is campaigning against Republican Richard Morton. Morton was campaigning late into last night - and analysis of early voting patterns indicates the white Republican has a real shot for a huge upset. Watch the returns tonight - and come back tomorrow for a full report.

Haynes: Bill Not Political -- State Sen. Joe Haynes' bill to make Lt. Gov. and elected position is not a political statement, he contended. After a Republican broke a 138-year streak of Democratic lieutenant governors, Democratic state Sen. Joe Haynes is pushing for a constitutional amendment to have the position popularly elected. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey calls that "ironic." Haynes said the cause was actually Gov. Phil Bredesen’s tick bite scare last year, which caused Bredesen to be hospitalized and revealed that the state did not have a line of succession if a governor became incapacitated. Under Haynes' bill, the Gov. and Lt. Gov. would run as a ticket, but the bill would also sever the joint role of Lt. Gov as Speaker of the Senate.

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