March 28, 2005

The Electability Factor

Ed Byrant, candidate for the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, welcomed fellow former Republican congressman Van Hilleary to the race for the nomination today with a press release and a devastating PowerPoint titled Van Hilleary's Historic Statewide Loss in Perspective. It's a brutal and brutally effective retort to Hilleary, who recently claimed he was more "electable" than some other candidates in the Republican field. Message: Hilleary can't win. For my take on Hilleary, read this. Short version: Hilleary lost the 2002 gbernatorial race due to an overabundance of caution and a cautious campaigner will have trouble defeating likely Democratic nominee U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., in the general election.

For Bryant's press release, click "read more."

FRANKLIN, TN - Former Congressman Ed Bryant, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, today welcomed 2002 GOP gubernatorial nominee Van Hilleary to the Senate race and suggested he explain to Tennesseans how his historical loss in 2002 makes him more electable in 2006 and doesn’t his historic loss prove the Democrats are capable of winning statewide.

On March 21st in Roll Call, Hilleary and his team claimed "the Republican nominee will be the Senator" and that "the differentiation is electability" and "it might dawn on some as the campaign goes down the track their electability is not as good as mine."

"Like so many Tennesseans who poured their hearts and souls into Van's campaign for Governor, I felt he'd have made a great Governor, endorsed him in the primary and am disappointed he's decided not to run for Governor again," said Bryant. "Although Van's relatively late decision to instead run for the Senate comes at a time when economic and social conservatives are coalescing around my campaign, I respect his right to run and welcome him to the race.

"Sadly, despite the hard work of so many great people, Van's the first Republican to lose statewide since before the landslide victories in 1994 leaving folks curious as to how his historic loss makes him more elect-able this time and how he can claim the Republican nominee will be the next Senator? Contrary to his claims, Tennessee Republicans are telling me that Van's historic loss in 2002 proves the Democrats are capable of winning statewide in Tennessee and underscores the importance for Republicans to nominate a strong, proven conservative who can win statewide, or risk losing Senator Frist's seat to the Democrats."