Gibbons May Drop from Governor's Race

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - With the Tennessee Gubernatorial race set for this coming November, candidates have just two weeks left to withdraw their names from the primary. Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons is expected to make a significant announcement Friday about his campaign.

No one from Gibbons' camp would comment on what that announcement might be, but political insiders here in Memphis say going up against a financial "titan" like Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam could be a hint.

With the deadline to withdraw from the Tennessee gubernatorial race just two weeks away, local political analyst say that Republican candidate Bill Gibbons' decision to call two news conferences Friday, one in Nashville and one in Memphis, can mean just one thing.

"It's a very auspicious occasion for someone to say I want to thank my friends for having supported me, in particular having a press conference in two different places, that's sure what it looks like," said Jackson Baker, political beat reporter for the Memphis Flyer.

"My sources are unimpeachable that he is going to have to step aside," predicted FOX13 Political Insider Mike Fleming.

Gibbons, who is the Shelby County District Attorney, is expected to make the announcement Friday that he's withdrawing from the four-man Republican gubernatorial primary because of lack of funding.

"When you get in this level, money rules and the one candidate, Bill Haslam from Knoxville is just rolling in that," said Fleming. "That makes it tough for that many people in a race, it just can't be done."

"People have known for a long time he was not raising money and just not doing well in the polls," said Baker. "Without money - that's the mother's milk of politics - without money, you can't win."

And while he may not have the "nourishment" for a gubernatorial campaign, Gibbons does have supporters, which could benefit another GOP candidate.

"There's some conjecture he might endorse someone on the way out, if indeed he is getting out [Friday], and that it's likely not the front runner," said Baker.

Friday's news conference in Nashville is set for 10:30am, and the news conference here in Memphis scheduled for 4:00pm.