Campaigns staff up, criticisms begin in 3rd District race

Nearly 180 days remain until 3rd District residents head to the polls to cast votes in the Aug. 2 congressional primary. 

And for the two most serious Republican candidates seeking to unseat Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, the remaining half-year is shaping up to be an all-out sprint.

Scottie Mayfield, a 61-year-old Athens resident and president of Mayfield Dairy, confirmed Tuesday his hire of Tommy Hopper as general consultant for his campaign, signaling the initial stages of his first run for office. Hopper, a long-time political consultant and former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, claims an 84-9 win record in elections and recently helped secure a 2010 primary win for Tennessee's 8th District Rep. Stephen Fincher—a farmer who went on to defeat state Sen. Roy Herron in the general election. 

Hopper's teaming up with Mayfield pits the consultant against Chip Saltsman, also a former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party and Fleischmann's chief of staff. Saltsman, who also draws from a trove of campaign experience, managed Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign in 2008. 

Mayfield also confirmed Tuesday his hire of 30-year-old Chattanooga resident Bo Patten to serve as campaign manager. Attempts by Nooga.com to reach Patten were unsuccessful. 

Upon his entry into the race last Friday, Mayfield faces the challenge of catching up to six-figure sums raised by both Fleischmann and Weston Wamp in their attempts for the seat. Fleischmann has reported more than $617,000 cash-on-hand, and Wamp, 24-year-old son of former 3rd District Rep. Zach Wamp, has raised more than $285,000 to spend on his campaign.

Although Mayfield confirmed he had already begun to receive financial contributions from supporters, he said he had not yet made a decision as to whether he would self-finance his campaign. 

"I think that's something for the voters to decide," Mayfield said. "I haven't made any kind of decision about that, but my inclination is that I would have enough support from people who want me in that office, financially, to be able to run a campaign. I think that's going to work."

Meanwhile, Wamp quickly criticized Fleischmann for accepting money from both out-of-state donors and political action committees following the release of fourth-quarter fundraising data. He issued a detailed list of contributions in those categories received by the incumbent for the 2012 election cycle last Friday. The announcement was the first direct attack on Fleischmann to be issued in the primary. 

In a phone interview with Nooga.com, Wamp said that the amount of both PAC and out-of-district money raised by the congressman was proof of the Washington, D.C., status quo being "broken" and questioned the incumbent's allegiance to 3rd District voters.

"One of the most important tests of a freshman congressman is whether he is earning the support or trust of the people in his own district," Wamp said. "It's obvious that he has had to rely on resources or money from outside the district to prop up his re-election campaign. It would seem to me, if the incumbent congressman was strong, and if the support for him was strong, that most of the money would come from inside his district instead of outside his district."

Wamp, who accepted a $5,000 contribution from "Zach Wamp for Governor," his father's 2010 gubernatorial campaign committee—which received funds from state PACs and special interest groups—said he would only accept future PAC funds for his own campaign if they came from organizations aligned with his core principals, citing groups such as Right to Life and the Club for Growth. Wamp also said he would not want to see PAC funds exceed more than 1/3 of his total fundraising haul. 

"I think 2/3 of your money ought to come from individuals in your own district," he said. "I would always strive for more than half of the money I raise to come from my own district."

Responding to Wamp's statement, Saltsman said it indicated his campaign had already become "desperate." Saltsman said he was confused at Wamp's choosing to criticize PAC funding, referring to a retracted campaign promise by the senior Wamp to not accept contributions from PACs. 

"It tells you he has a desperate campaign already when he wants to attack, especially on PAC money, when his father raised a million in PAC money after he said that he wouldn't raise any," he said. "He says he'll take PAC money, but he doesn't like our PAC money because he doesn't get it? I'm having a hard time following it."

Bill Taylor, a Democratic candidate for the 3rd District race, also released the initial outline of his campaign platform Tuesday. Although jobs are Taylor's top priority, a key focus of his agenda is on Medicare and includes the suggestion that elected officials be required to join the health insurance program.

"Medicare can and must be better managed," he said. 

Along with Taylor, Dr. Mary Headrick is running for the Democrat nomination in the 3rd District race. Both Dr. Jean Howard-Hill and Ron Bhalla have entered as Republicans. Topher Kersting is the lone Independent. 

Updated @ 7:55 a.m. on 02/08/12 to correct a typographical error.