It looks like Tennessee Democrats have their gubernatorial nominee settled out:
Former Tennessee state House Majority Leader Kim McMillan announced Wednesday she is ending her bid for the Democratic governor nomination, clearing the field for businessman Mike McWherter, and instead entering the Clarksville mayoral race.
McMillan's departure had been rumored around the Volunteer state after a recent poll showed she would be competitive should she run for mayor in her hometown. [...]
"I believe I can make a difference as Mayor of Tennessee's 5th largest city," McMillan concluded.
McMillan's exit leaves business Mike McWherter, the son of ex-Gov. Ned McWherter, as the presumptive Democratic nominee. McWherter recently pledged to put in $1 million of his own money into the race, and, very pleasantly, is taking a non-bullshit approach on healthcare reform:
McWherter called the health care overhaul signed by Democratic President Barack Obama last week "the law of the land," and criticized Republicans for urging the state to join a lawsuit seeking to block the law.
"Access to affordable, adequate health care is something that every Tennessean ought to have," McWherter said. "And this should not be an issue that we politically grandstand about."
McWherter will have to face the winner of a three-way Republican primary between Rep. Zach Wamp, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey.
