ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

Tennessee: Berke rallies Democrats at campaign opener

By: Adam Crisp
(Contact)

Included in this article

Andy Berke

When Sen. Andy Berke launched his first state Senate campaign last year, fewer than 50 people turned out to help celebrate the occasion.

On Wednesday, when the first-term Tennessee Democrat started his second election — this time to a full four-year term — organizers didn’t have enough chairs or soda to accommodate the standing-room-only crowd.

“The amazing thing is not just the size of the crowd, but the energy I’m feeling in the room tonight,” Mr. Berke said.

The throng of supporters stood on their feet, chanted “Yes-We-Can!,” mirroring a common element from U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s speeches, and then many of the attendees volunteered to register voters.

“I am so honored to have done what I did this year,” Mr. Berke said to supporters. “I was humbled by your support ... You understand that change doesn’t happen when we sit on the couch and do nothing. It occurs when good people, like you, get out and make it happen.”

The 40-year-old North Chattanooga lawyer is building up cash to push for a November victory. At the last reporting, he had about $80,000 ready to use in the campaign. The Republican nominee, Marion County resident Oscar Brown, reported raising no money during that same period.

“I’m going to run a good, clean campaign with Mr. Berke,” Mr. Brown said after clinching last month’s Republican primary. “I know I face an uphill battle, but I’m going to do my best.”

John Bailes, the Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman, predicted Mr. Berke easily would sail back into office.

“You don’t take anything for granted, but Andy has shown the ability to campaign hard and win,” Mr. Bailes said.

He didn’t have the same sweeping prediction for Bob Tuke, the Democrat hoping to upset incumbent U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander. Mr. Tuke also spoke at Mr. Berke’s Wednesday rally.

“Bob is going to have to work very hard,” Mr. Bailes said. “But I will say, because of the high turnout in the primary — for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, I think Bob could win Hamilton County.”

A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., declined comment on Mr. Tuke's appearance in Chattanooga Wednesday.

Wednesday’s announcement capitalized on a wave of Democratic enthusiasm about Sen. Barack Obama’s history-making presidential candidacy. Both Mr. Berke and Mr. Tuke made reference to Mr. Obama’s candidacy.

“As Sen. Obama has said, it’s time for a change,” said Mr. Tuke, a former Marine and Nashville resident. “It’s time for a change at every level of government.”

Rep. JoAnn Favors, D-Chattanooga, also spoke at the event. Fresh from her trip to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Ms. Favors rallied the crowd. She also faces a Republican challenger in November, Basil Marceaux Jr.

“I came away (from Denver) feeling so very, very encouraged,” Ms. Favors said. “It is important, my Democratic brothers and sisters, that over the next (59) days that everywhere you go you must tell people, they must vote for a Democratic candidate.”

Comments