Haslam Defends Record, Business
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (R) chided his GOP opponents for turning negative on him during an interview with Hotline OnCall last week while defending his record as the head of Pilot Corp.
Most indicators entering the 8/5 primary suggests Haslam is the frontrunner, including polling, fundraising, and the fact that he's the subject of most attacks launched from Rep. Zach Wamp (R-03) and LG Ron Ramsey (R), though just he launched a counterattack against Wamp last week. Haslam followed up with a radio ad this week criticizing Wamp and said he found the attacks against him to be sad given that he's helped Wamp and Ramsey in their previous campaigns.
"I've known them both and have financially supported them in the past," said Haslam, adding, "When you're running against them, everything changes. ... My hope is that we can get past that."
Haslam donated $1K to Wamp's first re-election bid in '96.
Indeed, Haslam has written more than 200 checks totaling over $350K to nat'l GOPers, special interest groups and GOP committees over the years, far more than either Wamp or Ramsey. Haslam is also considerably wealthier, though he has refused to release a detailed income statement. Wamp has attacked him as a billionaire, something which Haslam's camp has previously denied, and said during a separate interview with Hotline OnCall that Haslam is making at least $50M a year.
"The mayor and I have been friends for a long time," Wamp said during an earlier interview with Hotline OnCall. However, he said Haslam's team is "spending millions of dollars of their own money now" on ads that "do not match the man or his record."
When asked about Ramsey's prior relationship with Haslam, spokesperson Rachel Taylor didn't address the question directly, instead writing, "Haslam has supported Al Gore in a 1988 presidential run and one of the most liberal members of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation, Jim Cooper. Cooper voted with Speaker Pelosi 90% of the time in 2008 (most recent year posted) and voted over 80 percent liberal since the the time Mayor Haslam gave Rep. Cooper money. Tennesseans have a right to question these endorsements. Haslam is not an acceptable choice for most conservative Tennesseans."
Ramsey and Wamp have also targeted Haslam heavily for his stewardship of the gas giant Pilot Corp., particularly with regards to price gouging after a major hurricane.
"Ultimately, the leadership of the company is responsible," said Haslam. He chalked up the price gouging to "technical errors" which has since been settled -- by the courts -- and mentioned that Wamp has previously praised Pilot. "The reality is this: Zach knows better," said Haslam. "He's on record saying our company is a great Tennessee company."
Wamp responded by mentioning Haslam "continued to be a partner and receive his annual pay from Pilot Oil the entire time." Wamp: "His campaign propaganda calls him a 'remarkable businessman. ... So you can't have it both ways."
Haslam would not address questions about businessman Mike McWherter (D) or the general election, saying, "I'll wait (to) cross that bridge. We're 100% focused on winning the primary."