Group putting $20,000 into GOP get-out-the-vote effort for Joe Carr

Joe Carr

NASHVILLE - A national conservative group said today it is putting $20,000 into get-out-the-vote efforts in hopes of boosting turnout for Republican state Rep. Joe Carr in his GOP primary bid to beat incumbent U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

Jenny Beth Martin, chairman of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund said the money is going to the Real Conservatives National Committee. The goal is beefing up the "ground game" run by the Real Conservatives' "Beat Lamar" campaign, she said.

Martin didn't rule out putting more money into the race, saying there "may be more in a week or so."

Both the Tea Party Patriots and the Real Conservatives groups argue Alexander isn't sufficiently conservative, a charge Alexander rejects.

Others running in the six-person GOP primary include Memphis radiologist and radio-station chain owner George Flinn who so far has put $1.8 million into his effort.