John Tanner

Tanner's Retirement Opens Up Race In Swing Southern Seat

Eric Kleefeld | December 2, 2009, 11:53AM

Rep. John Tanner (D-TN)

The retirement of Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) appears at first glance to give the Republicans a decent pickup opportunity in 2010, in a district that voted heavily for John McCain in 2008 -- but the Dems could have a shot at keeping the seat, too.

The district's recent voting history in presidential elections suggests a Republican trend. It voted for Al Gore in 2000 by 51%-48%, but in 2004 went for George W. Bush by 53%-46%, and in 2008 for John McCain by 56%-43%.

However, a Democratic source told us that the picture isn't so simple. "The biggest misnomer out there right now is this a Republican seat," the source said, pointing out that the district also voted for the Democratic candidates in the 2002 gubernatorial and Senate races -- Dems narrowly won the former, and substantially lost the other -- and also voted for Harold Ford Jr. in his unsuccessful 2006 Senate race.

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