Zach Wamp, Republican candidate for governor, scored a victory in a West Tennessee straw poll at the Madison County Republican Reagan Day Dinner in Jackson on Friday night.
Rep. Wamp pulled in nearly 50 percent of the straw poll vote doubling the total of the runner up. The Chattanoogan led the way with 225 votes, followed by Bill Haslam with 111 votes, Ron Ramsey with 88 votes and Bill Gibbons, who received 48 votes.
“Last night’s straw poll makes clear that this election is going to be decided by the people - based on ideas, vision, strength and results about who can do the best job for Tennessee,” said Rep. Wamp. “We have the people and the momentum on our side, and it will be the people and their enthusiasm, not just the money, that will decide who will become the next Governor of Tennessee.”
On Saturday, Rep. Wamp also opened his Middle Tennessee campaign headquarters with a large group of supporters in Nashville. Today’s opening follows the opening of his East Tennessee headquarters in Chattanooga two weeks ago.
Next week, Rep. Wamp will open his West Tennessee headquarters in Memphis-- giving him a central campaign hub and headquarters in all three divisions of the state.
“While every county in the state is going to be important in our Republican primary, no area is more in play in this race than Nashville and the collar counties surrounding it,” said Rep. Wamp during the opening of this Nashville office. “So we are pleased to have our headquarters open to help support the activities of the thousands middle Tennessee volunteers we already have working for us.”
Immediately before opening his headquarters, Wamp addressed a gathering of nearly 100 Wamp for Governor county chairs and coordinators from all across the state. They came to Nashville for a quick update and statewide strategy meeting to help continue building support for Wamp’s growing campaign.
“We have a great team of leaders committed to our campaign who are helping carry our 20/20 Vision for an even better Tennessee in their counties and communities.” Wamp continued. “I have visited and campaigned in all 95 Tennessee counties, and voters are hungry for specific plans and ideas to help get folks back to work and to get our economy moving again. That’s why our 20/20 Vision is taking hold, why our volunteer ranks are growing, and why we now have nearly every county in the state organized and ready to go.”