Cammack Drops Out of TN Governor's Race

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville businessman Ward Cammack on Thursday became the second Democrat to drop out of the governor's race this week.

Cammack in a press release said he is ending his campaign because "long-standing political alliances proved impenetrable and fund raising ground to a halt."

State Sen. Roy Herron on Tuesday decided to drop his gubernatorial bid to instead seek the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. John Tanner of Union City.

The Democratic field to replace term-limited Gov. Phil Bredesen now includes Jackson businessman Mike McWherter, Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis and former House Majority Leader Kim McMillan of Clarksville.

Cammack is a Republican-turned-Democrat who declined to use more of his personal wealth to jump-start his campaign and struggled to find outside financial support.

By the middle of this year, Cammack had raised only about $200,000, and had spent all but $14,000.

Cammack did not indicate whether he'd support any of the remaining Democrats.

"It was a pleasure running in the same race together, the race to move Tennessee into the new, green economy by creating jobs, reconstructing education and fixing our healthcare system."

Republicans seeking the gubernatorial nomination include Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga, state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville and Memphis prosecutor Bill Gibbons.