RE: Clayton... So there's about a 30% baseline of D support statewide. Throw in a couple of percentage points for write-in's, no-votes, and those who went for Martin Pleasant, and you're at maybe 15 points to a statewide win.

Maybe not so dire.

Not because they vote Republican, but because they are not informed by facts and are pretty content to remain ignorant. This is no doubt a function of the sad state of our education system and our citizenry's over-reliance on the pulpit, instead of the science text.

And it has no chance of getting any better, with a Republican supermajority in the General Assembly.

We received a thank you note this morning from a person that provides services in the neighborhood. They thanked us for our Obama/Biden sign. They went on to say, "It took a great deal of courage to show blue in such a red area. Thank you for making me feel a bit less isolated."

Such is Blount County. If it wasn't for the Ciies of Alcoa and Maryville, Blount County would lead in the race to the bottom.

Here's a shout out to the person who left the note. Thank you. We appreciate you taking the time to write us a note. It does feel lonely, but you are not alone. Our numbers are growing.

I heard someone opine that with its looming demographic shift, Texas will soon become a swing state, and eventually solidly blue (assuming the Democrats remain aligned with the Hispanic community).

THAT is what's going to be the issue that eventually reforms the GOP. I see their only hope is embracing the libertarian wing, especially the youth, who are intellectually consistent with the 'smaller government' and apply it equally to social issues.

The evangelicals are going to get jettisoned soon, and as it turns out, they are a demographic dying breed as well (those identifying themselves as 'evangelical' are on a SHARP downturn).

For Tennessee, the only question is- how long will it take for us to catch up with this national trend?

I don't know as much as many folks here on the topic, but Madeline Rogero, and Andy Berke seem like unusually good resources on which the state Democratic Party could use as models to which to aspire.

They both could get crossover votes, because they seem to be such good choices. Regardless of your party.

Gloria Johnson seems like she may be cut from a similar cloth to some extent. An initial impression.

Kim McMillan had (has) great promise. I don't know what the party elders were thinking - pushing someone whose crowning achievement is being a beer distributor - in the bible belt no less. I don't care who your daddy is.

Then there's Kurita - show one bit of independance and you are shown the door. Well Tennesseans are independant people, maybe we might like independant candidates.