On Sunday, in East Memphis, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Lamar Alexander "openly dismissed the strength of the Tennessee Republican Party," the Ed Bryant for Senate campaign said.
The Bryant campaign stated, "Alexander spoke from his heart and declared that, 'This is not a Republican state.' ("Alexander Touts His Crossover Appeal to East Memphis Crowd" / The Commercial Appeal / June 2, 2002).'
Congressman Bryant said he strongly disagrees. "I could not disagree more with Lamar. Tennessee is a Republican state and has been for over a decade. Where has he been?"
He said, "Tennessee is the state that said 'no thanks' to native son Al Gore in the last presidential election. Tennessee sent Jim Sasser packing and gave us Senator Bill Frist. Tennessee gave us Senator Fred Thompson. Tennessee has elected a majority of Congressional Republicans since 1994. Save Bill Clinton and the now-defunct Public Service Commission, Tennessee has not elected a statewide officeholder in over a decade.
"Tennessee Republicans have good reason to be offended by Lamar Alexander's demoralizing remark toward the extent of their control and influence over statewide elected offices."
Rep. Bryant said, "While Lamar has been gone, Tennessee has moved
on, and we're ready for new, conservative, Republican leadership. That's why I'm running for the U.S. Senate."