Gubernatorial race laps through MTSU

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam visited MTSU during a stop on his gubernatorial campaign trail to attend Thursday night's basketball game with MTSU President Sidney McPhee.

"I think Middle plays a great role for us in what we want to do," Haslam said. "Because of the academic role it plays – it has the second highest entering ACT average of any school in the state – and where it sits geographically, Middle will play the key role in what we can do as a state."

Haslam said education will play a pivotal part in developing the future of Tennessee. 

He said he hopes to shift the large student body population of schools in the state, of which MTSU is second, into an increased number of graduates.

"I think the key challenge in Tennessee is that we have to increase the percentage of our population that has college degrees," Haslam said. "Right now, we are at about 21 percent of our population in the state, nationwide that number is closer to 28, 29 or 30 percent." 

Haslam said holding a college degree will truly matter in the competitive market that he sees in the future, and a lot more of these "jobs of the future" are going to depend on having a degree. 

He said if Tennessee is going to be competitive for those jobs, an increase of the number of residents with college degrees is essential.

"I think the students at MTSU are truly doing what they need to do – making the commitment to prepare themselves for the jobs of the future," Haslam said. "That may seem like a trite stand, but the reality is that with the economy we are in, today is a much more discriminating economy."

Haslam said unemployment rates in the state are just less than 11 percent, but for college graduates, it is 5 percent or less, while the unemployment rate for those without degrees is about 13 to 15 percent. 

The mayor, who is rapidly gaining support throughout the state, has recently raised $1 million, which is more than previous candidates raised at this same point in the election process.

Haslam's latest disclosure report has placed his campaign over $5 million, a clear lead over any other Republican candidate – a dramatic lead over the Democratic and independent candidates. 

"It is very gratifying," Haslam said. "These are obviously hard economic times, and we have had over 7,500 gifts to the campaign when you are doing what I am doing, you really can't do it by yourself."

After expenditures, recent financial disclosure reports show Haslam is left with $4.2 million for his campaign.

His opponents, all of whom are competing in the Republican gubernatorial primary race, have been raising money for their campaigns as well. U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp has a campaign war chest of $1.8 million. Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons has $246,000 on hand, and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsay has $2.3 million. 

Of the Democratic primary candidates, Mike McWherter, son of former Gov. Ned McWherter, shows his campaign has $619,000 on hand. State Sen. Jim Kyle has $568,000, and former Tenn. House Majority Leader Kim McMillan reported $106,000.

"The election this year is really about being able to help lead the state in very difficult economic times," Haslam said. "That means bringing jobs to the state and being able to balance the budget when the state is about $1 billion in the hole – it is really critical that our next governor can have the skills to lead in times like that."