On Being Tom Leatherwood

(Photo: Flyer) Originally post 5/22;Click the conversation for more.

UPDATED: The Frist Question.



ORIGINAL POST (5/22): Is it likely that Shelby County Register Tom Leatherwood will unseat U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn in the 7th Congressional District?

Well, you can pray about it but the Flyer's Jackson Baker finds that defeat is unlikely, even though Blackburn's own mishap with her campaign finances has opened a line of argument against her.

But can Leatherwood do to her what Barack Obama has done to the once inevitable Hillary Clinton?

An excerpt:

It's a long shot for the underfunded challenger, but it's a shot, and, once in a while, these things pan out. Just ask a certain once obscure African-American state senator from Chicago who took a flier on a long-shot U.S. Senate race in 2004 and who, in rapid order, saw both his chief Democratic primary opponent and his Republican general-election opponent self-destruct, leaving the way to Washington wide open. He went on to make the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and since then — well, you know the story.

Wouldn't being underfunded make Leatherwood more like Hillary Clinton?

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Commercial Appeal reporter Alex Doniach found that a Blackburn Campaign-financed citizen is overwhelming Shelby County government with public record requests focused on Leatherwood. An excerpt:

In a letter dated April 25, Nashville resident Tyler E. Jones requested every e-mail Leatherwood has sent since taking the register's office in 2001, what kind of county vehicle he drives, travel expenses and purchases he's charged to the county credit card and a copy of his official schedule. He also requested information about the register's office, including budget numbers and contracts since 2001.

In the letter, Jones said he was authorized to spend up to $1,000. The county charges 25 cents a copy.

"This is something the campaign is doing and something we're funding," said Darcy Anderson, spokesperson for Blackburn's campaign. "Any registered voter can get that information."

Leatherwood said Wednesday that he's not concerned about the campaign coming across any "smoking guns" in the requested records.

Leatherwood said he doesn't use the county e-mail for personal messages, he gave back his county credit card and passed on a county-funded car. He drives his own Ford Explorer to work, he said.