Tennessee Rep. Diane Black, a Republican, will put her party "at real risk to lose" in the midterm elections if she is the nominee for governor, according to one of her primary opponents.
Knoxville entrepreneur Randy Boyd, who is running for governor as a Republican, said on May 10, in a phone call with mayors who support him, that Black has "painted herself in such a corner" that she will drag the whole GOP down if she’s the party’s nominee, according to The USA Network – Tennessee.
According to a recent poll from Vanderbilt University, Black has the most name recognition of any Republican candidate, with Boyd the second most recognized.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and state House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh are the leading contenders in the Democratic primary, with Dean looking the stronger candidate, according to one participant on the call, audio from which was obtained by the USA Network - Tennessee.
"I feel, on the Republican side, I’ve got the strongest chance of beating [Dean]," Boyd replied. "I think Diane Black has painted herself in such a corner that she’d be — Republicans would be at real risk to lose if she’s the nominee."
A campaign spokesperson said last week that Black had not been mentioned on the call.
"None of us had any recollection of Randy making that comment on the call," spokeswoman Laine Arnold said Thursday. "But today’s Vanderbilt poll already showing Congressman Black with a 46 percent disapproval rating among Tennessee voters should be of concern to any candidate running in a statewide general election."
A spokesperson for Black’s campaign said that she takes "tough stands and fights for what is right and if that makes liberals not like her, we are fine with that," adding that "Tennesseans need a governor who acts boldly and tells it like it is. Whether you agree with her or not you will always know where she stands."
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