Democrat Lincoln Davis has just completed a series of town hall meetings in the 4th Congressional District. Always in the crowd was a representative from the Tennessee Republican Party, which is looking for something to use against him.
Davis ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. He now faces a physician from Marion County named Scott DesJarlais, who won the Republican nomination last week.
DesJarlais is new to politics and not well-known around the 4th District, which stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and south of Nashville. Lincoln Davis has held the seat since 2003 but says he won’t rest on being an incumbent, especially in a year where Democrats are under fire.
“Any member of congress who feels that they already have it won may wake up on November 3rd and say ‘but I had it won.’ I know it’s important in my district that I run a full fledged campaign like we have over the years and I think we’ll have a good victory in November.”
His town hall meetings haven’t all been well attended, Davis says, but at least one person always shows up with a video camera. Congressman Davis believes Republicans are looking for something to use against him, like a verbal slip.
“The party on the other side of the aisle has sent a tracker to, I guess, listen to whatever I’m saying.”
The Tennessee Republican Party confirms a representative is shooting video at the events.
Davis has nearly half-a-million dollars in the bank for the general election. But his opponent has been able to fundraise effectively. DesJarlais spent nearly $300,000 in the primary, and most of that was raised from individuals.
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