3rd District race pits incumbent against two serious challengers

By MIKE KRAFCIK
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A sitting congressman usually has an advantage in a re-election campaign and rarely is challenged in his or her own primary. 

When early voting begins Friday, 3rd District Rep. Chuck Fleischmann finds himself in a major battle with not one but two serious contenders in the Republican primary.  

Television ads of the three top-spending candidates are flooding the airwaves.  

6 News political analyst George Korda says the race for the 3rd District could be close as Rep. Fleischmann tries to win his second term in office. 

"You got three people running, all of whom have great name recognition," Korda said. In fact, this is one of those situations where challengers may have better name recognition than the incumbent." 

The two big-name challengers in the primary have already raised a lot of cash. They are Scottie Mayfield, of Mayfield Dairy, and Weston Wamp, son of former Congressman Zach Wamp.  

"Fleischmann is trying to say, 'I'm the anti-Obama,' and Mayfield is saying, 'I've created jobs in the private sector, I can do that in Washington,'" said Korda. "Wamp is, 'Hey, I'm a younger guy. I can bring a fresh prospective. I can reach across the aisle and get things done.'"

Fleischmann has raised $938,817, according to latest candidate disclosure filing. PACs have contributed $363, 375 to his campaign.  

Wamp has raised $482,779, with most of it from individual donations.

The same is true for Scottie Mayfield. He's close behind Wamp, raising $450, 648.

Wamp has received $5,000 from PACs, while Mayfield received $1, 000 in PAC money.   

"PAC's and contributors in particular generally follow the incumbent, so the two challengers, they got their best chance in Congress if they go after a first-term incumbent," said Korda.  

Korda noted the candidates are not attacking each other in their ads.

"There's been so little hammering of each other, it suggests to me that the polls are probably close," Korda said.  

Ron Bhalia is the other Republican in the race, but he has not made much of a showing with his campaign. He has raised just $150 by the last disclosure deadline.  

Two Democrats, Mary Headrick and Bill Taylor, are vying for Democratic primary.

Matthew Deniston is running in the 3rd District as an independent.