6 GOP lawmakers from Tennessee back Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Texas Gov. Rick Perry
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

Six Republican lawmakers from Tennessee endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president Monday.

The announcement came the day after a Chattanooga Times Free Press analysis showed Perry hadn't reported a single donation from Hamilton County, despite being second only to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in fundraising across Tennessee.

State Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, of Murfreesboro; Sen. Brian Kelsey, of Germantown; Sen. Jim Summerville, of Dickson; House Speaker Pro Tempore Judd Matheny, of Tullahoma; Rep. Don Miller, of Morristown; and Rep. Mark White, of Memphis, threw their support behind the Texas governor in a news release sent by the Perry campaign.

"Rick Perry doesn't just spout conservative rhetoric -- he implements tangible conservative reform," White said.

The six joined Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who recently was announced as Perry's campaign chairman for Tennessee.

"I am humbled to have the support of so many Republican lawmakers in Tennessee," Perry said in the news release. "They share my vision for a stronger America with more jobs, more freedom and less government intrusion in the lives of our citizens."