Jean Howard-Hill, 3rd District U.S. House candidate, said she and other Republican candidates have been asked by Chuck Fleischmann to drop out of the race and to endorse him.

Ms. Howard-Hill said, "Just when you think 3rd Congressional District Republican politics is bad and is going in the wrong direction, then it gets worse.

"Granted, there may be those as Fleischmann suggests who may not want to see Robin Smith elected, but nevertheless, this is not how the political process should play out in real time. It wreaks of politics as usual, which should trouble and concern every voter within the 3rd District.

"As a political science educator, we try to teach government in such a way that citizens understand the importance of the role they play in elections and in holding those elected responsible for how they govern. It is the people who determines who is most qualified. But what I am seeing is a bad model, which produces bad politics because it fails to take a look at the qualifications of all of the candidates, and then to leave the decision up to voters.

"This grandeur positioning of both candidates who have been made to be forerunners has been taken seriously to the point that even now the two of them believe it and are using it to cause qualified candidates to perhaps consider dropping out of the race.

"When will the focus be on qualifications and issues, rather than money, political backing and polls?"

She also says that "polls taken which do not reach the grassroots voters should not be taken seriously and that, depending upon who does the polling, it can be biased in one direction.

"Voters should ask themselves, how many of us have been actually polled?

"The only poll that is legitimate is the one on election day, which is not until Aug. 5."

She said, "I have no beef with Fleischmann, but to his request, my response is, 'I don't think so! Because this goes against everything I teach and believe - which is the people should be the ones to decide who is most qualified, and not some within the media, the dubbed forerunners or anyone else."

Robin Smith campaign spokesman Mark Winslow commented on "the desperate action" by saying, "First inaccurate smears, and now backroom deals. These actions are characteristic of a self-serving politician who only parrots the talking points of changing Washington to simply get elected.

“The campaign of trial lawyer Chuck Fleischmann managed to find a new low today. Robin Smith has spent 13 months speaking to voters, standing on issue specifics and presenting a legislative plan that gets government out of the way of job creation, reduces federal spending and repeals ObamaCare. Fleischmann’s campaign seems to have one goal: tear others down to get elected.

“We agree with Dr. Hill that this example of a do-anything, say-anything approach to getting elected is ruining politics and smacks of a complete disregard for the election process. Robin Smith is confident that these exposed tactics are being rejected and challenges Fleischmann’s handlers to pull down his untruthful negative ads.

"Dr. Howard-Hill is to be commended both for the respect she has shown to our democratic process and for her willingness to bring this issue into public view. Tennesseans can be proud of the stand she has taken today.”

Another candidate, Tim Gobble, said, “Dr. Jean Howard-Hill’s release earlier today that stated she had been approached by Chuck Fleischmann about dropping out of the race came as no surprise. I am disappointed by Robin Smith’s latest statement in which she attacks Chuck Fleischmann for approaching Dr. Hill because she has approached me in the same manner.

"I have been approached by Chuck Fleischmann and Robin Smith on more than one occasion about dropping out of this race and handing over an endorsement. At the Rhea County Strawberry Festival Parade on May 15, Robin Smith not only encouraged me to drop out and endorse her, but she went so far as to suggest that if I would drop out and endorse her she would help me find a Homeland Security-related job.

“This has been typical politics on the part of two candidates over the course of this race, but Robin Smith’s release today condemning Chuck Fleischmann for the behavior she herself has engaged in is over the top. Voters have seen Smith and Fleischmann publicly attack one another over the course of the last couple of weeks, but their divisive, manipulative spirit has been present in this race for a long time. Through it all, I have continued to take my message to voters, run a campaign for the people, and do everything I can to protect our democratic process because the voters, not other candidates, decide who will represent the Third District."

Hitting what she called "false allegations," Robin Smith said, "Despite any statements made by other candidates or campaign operatives, there have never been communications of any sort from me or my campaign making any deals in exchange for votes or support. I have and will continue to run a race base on issues and truth.

"These candidates, who are trailing in the polls, should discontinue trying to manipulate the race with pressure on our colleagues to withdraw and should join me in staying on the issues."