WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp said Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey is off-base and mistaken in his recent comments that the Chattanooga congressman’s 2010 gubernatorial bid is not gaining traction.

“That’s wishful thinking,” Rep. Wamp, R-Tenn., said today. “The fact is, I am in this race for the long haul and to win. I have a tremendous amount of momentum on the grassroots level. I have the perfect blend of political savvy and business acumen and leadership. I have an excellent record on the things that Tennesseans care about.”

Lt. Gov. Ramsey, who also is a Republican senator from Blountville, this week announced that he is forming an exploratory committee to examine a possible run for governor.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen cannot run again in 2010 because of term limits.

The Kingsport Times-News reported earlier this week that Lt. Gov. Ramsey told a Greene County GOP Lincoln Day dinner audience: “I don’t think Zach is catching on” and that Rep. Wamp “was halfway aggravated” when they talked about his entry into the race.

Rep. Wamp said the lieutenant governor’s recollection of their conversation is wrong.

“In all due respect to him, that was something that he said that I didn’t say,” Rep. Wamp said. “I’m not going to get into this back and forth with him. He’s lieutenant governor, and I think he should stay lieutenant governor because he’s a good one.”

Along with Rep. Wamp, also in the race on the Republican side are Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons.

So far, only Nashville businessman Ward Cammack has declared his candidacy on the Democratic side. Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., former state House Majority Leader Kim McMillan and state Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, are mulling bids.