MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- State Rep. Joe Carr has picked up the endorsement of Tennessee’s Tea Parties for his bid to unseat Senator Lamar Alexander.
The Tennessean says a coalition of in-state tea party groups held a convention in Nashville this past weekend. Early rounds of voting indicate Carr’s support among tea party enthusiasts is not unanimous, but he eventually won with about 70 percent of those casting a vote endorsing his candidacy.
Carr says he was pleased to get the conservative nod and believes tea party volunteers will prove crucial to his campaign.
“My understanding is that they have over 650 volunteers across the State of Tennessee that will be canvasing and knocking on doors and getting out the word that Tennessee can have a conservative, principled United States Senator represent them in Washington.”
Tennessee’s Republican establishment seems less enthusiastic about Carr’s candidacy. Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey was recently quoted saying Carr has little chance of unseating Alexander. A recent mailing from the State GOP also endorsed the incumbent senator.