Morning Show Blog

Down and Dirty in the First District

 Aug 06, 2008 - 06:08 am

Regardless of what happens on Thursday, this year’s 1st District Congressional Republican Primary will be remembered by historians. 

For the first time in recent memory, the usually mild competition for the Northeast Tennessee Congressional seat developed a nasty streak.  Last minute ads from David Davis and Phil Roe have amounted to political punch-throwing.  Roe accused Davis of being in the back pockets of big oil.  Davis practically accused Roe of breaking the law by trading his mayoral vote in favor of a Johnson City road project for campaign contributions from the contractors who got the job.

The primary two years ago was heated, but it wasn’t nearly as naughty as this.

Remember the Jimmy Quillen and Bill Jenkins days?  Few dared to challenge the incumbent Republican Congressman whose election was more like a coronation that lasted for life - or until the politician decided he’d had enough.  Challenges that did come were from Democrats, certainly not from fellow Republicans.

Those days are over, it seems.

You hear a lot of talking heads waving their arms in despair over negative campaigning.  I don’t like it either, but hey - it’s politics.  It’s how the game works.  Move on.

What do you think?  Too negative?  Are you sick of it?  Or is this a race that finally got interesting?



Posted by Josh Smith

Page 1 of 1 pages

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement