TVA funding a factor in the election?

[69KV]

I'm curious about something.

By conventional wisdom Tennessee should be leaning strongly Bush along with most of the rest of the south. But polls are showing the state a toss-up. Pundits have attributed this to the residual Gore effect. I'm not buying it, especially since Gore's not in the race this time.

I have my own guess as to one big reason why this state is in play, and it's not being mentioned much: TVA. I've gotten reports coming out of Tennessee from old friends and former co-workers that the Repukes have cut TVA funding so much the past few years that the TVA facilities in some towns are being shut down.

Question for DUers in Tenn. How much of a factor is TVA in this election? I know it is, or was, a big employer in some parts of the state, but not in others. Is this an issue Kerry could take up and win Tennessee with?

[harrison]

1. What the Repukes would like to do is privatize TVA. A friend of

mine is in charge of a local power coop which gets power from TVA. Think of all the money private utilities could make if they could get their grubby little hands on things. Bastards.

[Claire Beth]

2. I think there are several factors....

involved as to the reason that Tennessee is in a close race. The TVA situation is for sure part of the reason but there are many others involved as well. Lots of Tennesseans have family and friends who have had to go to Iraq (many reserves and Nat'l guard) causing people to pay closer attention to how unjustifiable this Iraq war really was. Also, the movie "F-911" *DID* have some impact from people I know personally who changed their vote to Kerry after having seen the film. Also, Tennessee has lost thounds and thousands of jobs due to factories shutting down/outsourcing. I think everything put together is causing Tennessee to become a VERY close state in this race.