Congressman Zach Wamp announced Monday night during a fundraising event in Chattanooga that he has already received cash and commitments of more than $1 million in his campaign for governor.
The announcement came during Rep. Wamp’s first major campaign fundraising event in the Chattanooga home of Eileen and John ”Thunder” Thornton that was co-hosted by more than four dozen other East Tennessee leaders. The honorary chairman of the event was former U.S. Sen. Bill Brock, who has already publicly endorsed Wamp in his campaign for Governor.
“Tonight, thanks to the generous support and hard work by so many people, we exceeded all expectations and raised more than $600,000 from tonight’s event alone for my campaign for Governor,” Rep. Wamp told those assembled in Chattanooga. “And with hundreds of thousands more dollars in specified pledges both from tonight and in support of upcoming events, I am pleased to report that we are way ahead of where we expected to be so early. I am humbled and gratified that we have so quickly crossed the $1 million dollar mark in cash and commitments in just about three short weeks of active campaign fundraising.”
Rep. Wamp said tonight’s event in Chattanooga would be the first of dozens of large and small fundraising events that will be organized during the next two years to build continued support for his statewide campaign for governor.
“I am very grateful to leaders like Thunder Thornton and Bill Brock and to so many others who have generously contributed and pledged their early support to me,” Rep. Wamp said. “And I am especially grateful to all of those who have gone to my website at www.ZachWamp.com, and contributed whatever amount, large or small, that they were able to contribute in these tough economic times.”
“The people of Tennessee will ensure that money alone will not decide the outcome of this race for governor, and we may not end up raising and spending the most money in this race, but we feel confident we will meet our goals to be successful on election day,” he told those assembled. “And after traveling all around the state this past month, I can also report to you that we already have what no other campaign has in all three grand divisions of our state - and that is the vision, energy, passion and support needed to create a better and brighter Tennessee for our children and grandchildren.”