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Parts of Crossville were hit with a flash flood early Saturday afternoon, after a short stint of heavy rain that caught many off guard.More >> Parts of Crossville were hit with a flash flood early Saturday afternoon, after a short stint of heavy rain that caught many off guard.More >> Police investigating reports of an intoxicated driver made an unexpected discovery when a traffic stop yielded 335 pounds of marijuana.More >> Police investigating reports of an intoxicated driver made an unexpected discovery when a traffic stop yielded 335 pounds of marijuana.More >> The Chattanooga market will add hundreds of hotel rooms in the coming year, following four years of booming revenues for its hotel industry.More >> The Chattanooga market will add hundreds of hotel rooms in the coming year, following four years of booming revenues for its hotel industry.More >> A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.More >> A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.More >> A Knox County man is being charged for the murder of his brother, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.More >> A Knox County man is being charged for the murder of his brother, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> Leaders of Nashville's convention center already are mapping out a possible future expansion of a center that spans six downtown blocks and sits on 19 acres.More >> Leaders of Nashville's convention center already are mapping out a possible future expansion of a center that spans six downtown blocks and sits on 19 acres.More >> Witnesses described a frantic scene and close calls after an elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a small Virginia mountain town's parade.More >> An emergency official says authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally.More >> A program to help soldiers get loans to purchase homes has gotten a permanent extension.More >> A program to help soldiers get loans to purchase homes has gotten a permanent extension.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >>
By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Republican Party appears to be standing by a freshman congressman seeking re-election despite the revelation of a recorded conversation of the pro-life proponent urging his mistress to get an abortion.
Executive Director Adam Nickas said in a statement this week that the transcript first reported by the Huffington Post is the same type of "smear campaign" tactics used against Rep. Scott DesJarlais when he ran in the 2010 election, "which voters overwhelmingly rejected."
DesJarlais on his website espouses a platform that opposes abortion.
Nickas did not immediately respond to follow up questions Thursday from The Associated Press on whether the GOP plans to distance itself from DesJarlais and voter perception that indicates the congressman acted opposite his platform.
The phone recording appears to have been made before DesJarlais' divorce from his wife, Susan, was finalized in 2001.
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