Ron RamseyNASHVILLE - Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey today discounted state Rep. Joe Carr's GOP primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, saying the Lascassas lawmaker has no chance of winning.
Ramsey, the state Senate speaker, recalled his own 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary race with Bill Haslam, who won in a three-man contest that included Zach Wamp of Chattanooga.
"I ran against $18 million one time. It's no fun. That's what it comes down to. It is," Ramsey told reporters when asked about the chances for Carr, a Lascassas lawmaker, in his Tea Party-fueled insurgent challenge to Alexander.
Asked if he was saying Carr can't win, Ramsey said, "I don't see it happening."
Haslam, a multi-millionaire, relied on a combination of personal wealth and a huge fundraising challenge to overwhelm Ramsey and Wamp. Haslam easily beat Democrat Mike McWherter in the 2010 general election.
Alexander, also a multi-millionaire, reported having $3 million on hand from contributions in his last campaign disclosure.