Gut check time for political parties

The clock is about to hit zero on the 2008 campaign season as both parties scramble for remaining votes

By Ken Whitehouse, NashvillePost.com
November 3, 2008

The Tennessee Republican and Democratic parties are launching the final phases of their respective "Get Out the Vote" plans and twisting every arm they can find before polls close at 7 p.m. tomorrow night.

Today, Tennessee Republican leaders embarked on a "fly-around" to six different locations across the state to try to bolster their troops and drum up more support.

At a Murfreesboro event earlier today, Tennessee Republican Party Chair Robin Smith implored Rutherford County Republicans to help get neighbors to the polls and vote for the GOP ticket.

"It does indeed matter who governs," Smith said. "The solution before us the next two years will be either to increase taxes or cut spending, these people before you won't raise taxes, they will cut spending."

Smith then introduced those she was referring to, who included State Senators Mark Norris, Jim Tracy, Jack Johnson, Bill Ketron, State Representatives Glen Casada, Donna Rowland, and State House candidates Barbara Blanton, Joe Carr and Rick Womick.

Also joining Smith on the fly-around was former Congressman Van Hilleary. Norris emphasized that Republicans in the state legislature need to have a majority in the State Senate and State House.

"We have shown leadership that works since we took control in the State Senate," Norris said. "Help us solidify our majority and it does indeed matter who governs."

Cities on the GOP tour today in addition to Murfreesboro are Knoxville, Chattanooga, Union City, Jackson and Nashville. Smith said that they originally had planned to hit two more cities, but that scheduling issues arose in Memphis and Senator John McCain's rally in the Tri-Cities meant those areas were covered.

Asked what plans the GOP had for Election Day, Smith said their work would be mostly on the phones with person-to-person calls and robocalls. She did state that some areas would have a concerted effort to get Republican voters to the polls by offering them rides, but she declined to say where.

Reached by phone, Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Wade Munday said his team is working just as diligently.

"We have a robust party infrastructure that relies upon local and county volunteers who are bolstered in their ground game by the energy and enthusiasm of the Democratic message this year," Munday said. "To put it simply, we continue to do what we've been doing — talking to neighbors, community organizers, friends, family, and strangers about the tremendous opportunity we have this year to put our political fortunes back into the hands of the people, not the special interests."