Knoxville Mayor and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam is celebrating a few things lately—an $8.7 million fundraising haul, a Davidson County GOP straw poll victory—but today he touted a victory in the journalism arena, when three of the state’s leading newspapers published editorials in favor of his candidacy. From left to right (on a map, not politically speaking):
The Memphis Commercial Appeal:
[Haslam] has a sense of perspective and a level of maturity that lift him above his competitors in the GOP race. He has the disposition to work well with members of the Tennessee congressional delegation, members of the General Assembly, local officials, business leaders and the public…GOP voters looking for a candidate who will remain true to core party principles and best represent what is admirable about the people of this state should give strong consideration to Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.
The Nashville Tennessean:
In looking at the political history and campaign comments of Haslam and his opponents, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey of Blountville and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga, it’s clear they share similar views on social issues — abortion, guns, the death penalty. Therefore, the choice comes down to how well each of the candidates would manage the state’s affairs, set policies that will best address the challenges Tennessee faces, and represent the needs of all Tennesseans regardless of where they live, their economic standing and their personal beliefs. It is on those criteria that Bill Haslam emerges, head and shoulders, as the best candidate.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel:
[Haslam’s] management of the city indicates he would manage the state’s affairs with competence as well. Haslam’s campaign has remained positive and focused on the skills he would bring to the governor’s office, despite the sniping of his opponents. He has come off as the most reasonable, civil and thoughtful of the GOP hopefuls.
(I grinned at the Knoxville paper’s tweet about their editorial. It began, “Surprise!”)
Notice anything missing? So did WRCB News Director Derrall Stalvey, who (rhetorically?) wondered aloud about the Chattanooga Times Free Press. As one of the only newspapers in the nation with a split editorial page, the Chattanooga daily typically presents an interesting take.