Tenn. Candidates Raise Big Money

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The poor economy doesn't appear to be putting the brakes on fundraising efforts by Republican gubernatorial candidates in Tennessee.

Three top candidates for the GOP nomination announced Wednesday they have combined to raise $6.3 million through the first six months of the year.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's campaign said he expects to report raising about $3.8 million. State Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville announced he had raised $1.3 million. And U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga said he will come in at about $1.2 million.

Ramsey's campaign emphasized he has been able to quickly generate campaign cash despite just joining the race after an in-session fundraising ban for sitting state lawmakers lapsed on June 1. Haslam, Wamp and Memphis prosecutor Bill Gibbons have been in the race since January.

Gibbons has not yet released fundraising totals. The formal reporting deadline is July 15.

The money totals give a first glimpse at the long campaign to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Haslam is a former president of family founded Pilot Corp., the country's largest truck stop chain. His personal wealth and family connections have raised concerns about whether opponents will be able to keep up with his campaign spending.

But Wamp and Ramsey said they expect to overcome any financial disadvantage.

"At the end of the day, this race is going to be decided by the people and not by the big money crowd," Wamp said in a statement.

Ramsey said in statement: "I don't mind that other folks inherited advantages in this campaign that I can't control -- I'm going to earn it every step of the way."

Haslam finance director Kim Kaegi said the candidate made no contributions to his own campaign, while Wamp's campaign said his total doesn't include any money from his congressional campaign account.

Haslam's total beats the $3.4 million that former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker had raised for his successful U.S. Senate bid at the same point of the 2006 campaign cycle.

Both Wamp and Ramsey raised more than either of Corker's two GOP rivals in that race, which was the state's most recent strongly contested statewide GOP primary and general election.

Corker ended up spending $18.6 million on that race, including about $4 million of his own money. His Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Memphis, spent $15.5 million.

Fundraising totals were also not yet available for any of the Democrats seeking the nomination. They include Nashville businessman Ward Cammack, state Sen. Roy Herron of Dresden, former state House Majority Leader Kim McMillan of Clarksville and Jackson businessman Mike McWherter.

The next fundraising period ends in mid-January. Afterward candidates will have to make quarterly filings.