Van Hilleary running STRONG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Coxe
March 27, 2006 615-556-7940

Hilleary Continues to Dominate Straw Poll ContestsAdds Another Victory in Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TN - Republican frontrunner for the U.S. Senate Van Hilleary continues to dominate straw poll contests racking up another win Sunday at a Chili Cook-off in Murfreesboro. Van Hilleary received 132 votes, Ed Bryant received 83 votes and Bob Corker garnered 26 votes.

Sunday's win comes on the heels of straw poll victories in Bledsoe, Wilson, Coffee and Rutherford Counties. Van Hilleary has one five of the seven straw polls conducted this year in the hotly contested Senate primary.

Last Saturday, Van Hilleary won a straw poll conducted at the first South Middle Tennessee Republican Men's Club (SMTRMC) Banquet of the campaign season. The dinner meeting was attended by more than 120 grassroots Republican activists representing more than nine counties across the state. Van Hilleary garnered 51 first choice votes compared to 35 for Ed Bryant and two for Bob Corker.

Van Hilleary recently posted another impressive win in Wilson County where he received 136 votes, besting his closest primary opponent- Ed Bryant- by 75 votes. Bob Corker received less than 10 votes and came in a distant fourth behind Jeff Moder who recently withdrew form the Senate race.

Van Hilleary's straw poll victories are a reflection of the broad support that Van Hilleary enjoys from Republicans all across the state. Without exception, every independent poll and campaign analysis over the last six months shows Van Hilleary with a 10+ point lead over Ed Bryant and a 20+ point lead over Bob Corker.

Lebanon Democrat: "...The sharp response by Ford may be an indication the Democrat favorite is focusing more on the Republican (Hilleary) his campaign believes may be his likely opponent in the fall. Heretofore, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker has been the focus of Tennessee Democrats and Washington D.C. Observers who see Corker's fund-raising advantage over the rest of the GOP field as insurmountable.

That school of thought may be changing as internal polling swirling around Tennessee Democratic Party circles show Hilleary with a commanding lead in the primary- and leading Corker by more than 20 points and fellow GOP traveler and primary opponent Ed Bryant by as much as 16 points. Those numbers are in line with Hilleary's own polling, which the Bryant camp has attacked vigorously. More fire trained on Hilleary by Ford and Democrats may mean the legend of Bob Corker's money does not mean as much as it used to now with only six months until the primary." (The Lebanon Democrat, Hilleary's stock rising..., Brewer, February 23, 2006)

Knoxville News Sentinel: "Only U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a Democrat, and former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, a Republican, were known by more than half of the more than 800 registered voters polled by SurveyUSA for WBIR Channel 10... Eighty percent of respondents said they are familiar with Ford, while 78 percent knew something about Hilleary. Of the other Republicans, 54 percent of respondents said they're unfamiliar with former U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant, who lost out to Lamar Alexander in the 2002 GOP primary for the state's other Senate seat. Six in 10 are unfamiliar with former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. ...

The poll also breaks down the impressions respondents have of each candidate by age, race, party affiliation, ideology, region and geography. ... Among Republicans, Hilleary has the highest "favorable" rating with all respondents, with 30 percent having a good impression of him. Bryant got a 15 percent favorable rating, while Corker brought up the rear with 7 percent. ... Hilleary .... also has the highest favorable rating among Republicans - 40 percent to Bryant's 23 percent and Corker's 10 percent. (Knoxville News Sentinel, Running below Radar , Scott Barker, January 21, 2006)

The Tennessee Journal"Standings. Everyone agrees that Corker is in third place in the polls, but Hilleary has polls showing him well ahead of Bryant, and Bryant has polls showing that he leads Hilleary. It may be late winter or early spring before an independent poll sheds some light on the dispute. Based on knowledge of several surveys and other factors, The Tennessee Journal believes Hilleary does in fact have a lead. Rounding down for Hilleary and perhaps up for Corker, the standings likely are something in the neighborhood of Hilleary 30%, Bryant 20%, and Corker 10%." (The Tennessee Journal, Volume 31No. 38, November 28, 2005)

Wilson County and Bryant Team getting strained

More good (although not unexpected) news last night. Van won the Wilson County straw poll
with 62+% of the vote. It's amazing how Ed and Bob lose ground when nobody buses in college kids to vote. Vote totals:

Van: 136
Bryant: 61
Moder: 13
Corker: 9

Apparently Ed and company are having a coniption over some of Van's recent endorsements and the reason they endorsed Van over Ed. As noted previously, Dr. Cannon, Mayor Shutts and Ron Stallings were denied help by Ed Bryant in an area where his assistance could have been enough to give their campaigns that extra edge needed to win against very entrenched, crooked democrats. For some reason, Ed not only didn't help them. He resisted helping them in such a public way that many of us noticed.

Apparently Ed doesn't like it that his history is becoming public and has accused Van Hilleary of not helping Terry Roland and Mary Ann McNeil in their recent elections. Having a small part in both campaigns, I can wholeheartedly say that Ed is lying again. In addition to being a large donor for Terry, Van made numerous calls to his supporters in the region asking them to support both campaigns.

Ed Bryant is desperate to cover up his history of working against conservative grassroots candidates in West Tennessee. Too late Ed. Helping two candidates last year after a decade of working against others Republicans looks more like a PR effort than anything else.

Ed is losing ground fast in West TN.

Van strong at home and in other candidate's back yard!

NUMBERS FROM THE VAN WAGON:

"Hilleary Wins Straw Poll""...There was also a "straw poll" of attendees and Ruben Watkins, the County Chairman has provided us with the results in the category of the Republican Primary for U.S. Senate:
Van Hilleary 59% (104 votes)
Bob Corker 28% (51 votes)
Ed Bryant 12% (21 votes) "

Van Hilleary winning in his old district is not a shock or big news. Even Ed Bryant did fairly decent since, I was told by a Bledsonean, Ed Bryant has never stepped foot into Bledsoe County. It would be likely that Ed Bryant would do very well in his home area of Madison County

But, keep reading below, Ed Bryant may be getting his hat handed to him in the rest of West Tennessee. Even Bob corker would not want Camp Ed to fall apart in West Tennessee leaving those votes for Van Hilleary. It looks like the other two campaigns may not have any choice!

What if Van ran first out of the west-state area?

Can you smell what the Vaniacs are cookin?

Van Hilleary gaining ground in West TN!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Coxe
March 2, 2005 615-556-7940

Courage Under Fire: That’s why West Tennessee

leaders back Van Hilleary

NASHVILLE, TN – Past West Tennessee Republican challengers to Lt. Governor John Wilder and Speaker Jimmy Naifeh today endorsed Van Hilleary, the Republican frontrunner for Tennessee’s open U.S. Senate seat on the Steve Gill show. Ron Stallings, Savannah Mayor Bob Shutt and Dr. Jesse Cannon said that Van’s leadership and his willingness to fight for conservative principles sets him apart from his primary opponents. They believe that Van is the type of senator we need in Washington fighting for our conservative values.

Cannon, Stallings and Shutt all hail from West Tennessee and have thrown their support behind Hilleary, an East Tennessee native, because they know Hilleary to be a solid conservative who is not afraid to stand up and fight for conservative principles even when it is not the easy thing to do. Hilleary is the only person running for the U.S. Senate who had the courage of his conservative convictions to stand up to the powerful pro-income tax Democrat Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Tennessee House and work for the election of their conservative Republican challengers.

In 2000, when Savannah Mayor Bob Shutt challenged the powerful pro-income tax Lt. Governor John Wilder Hilleary was willing to stand up to Lt. Governor Wilder and work for Shutt’s election. Shutt is endorsing Hillary because he believes Van is the only candidate with the courage of his convictions to stand up to the liberals in Washington.

“Folks in West Tennessee saw the fighter in Van when he trekked over to West Tennessee and work hard for me in my race against Lt. Governor Wilder. It wasn’t easy and he didn’t have to do it but Van believed in me and he believes in conservative principles enough to work hard to defeat the pro-income tax Wilder,” said Shutt. “Van differs from Bob Corker in that Van is a solid sincere conservative and Bob Corker is a left leaning Republican. The difference between Van and Ed Bryant isn’t ideology it is style and courage. Van stood up to John Wilder, and Ed Bryant refused to help me. My concern with Ed Bryant is that if you can’t stand up to John Wilder then how can we expect you to stand up to Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate.”

In 2004, Ron Stallings, who hails from Fayette County, challenged the powerful Lt. Governor John Wilder nearly defeating the powerful pro-income tax Democrat. Stallings is endorsing Hilleary because he saw first hand Van’s commitment to the conservative cause and his willingness to stand up and fight for what he believes in. Stallings cited an instance at the end of the campaign that illustrates the difference between Hilleary and fellow conservative Ed Bryant who were both campaigning for President Bush on a bus tour through West Tennessee in 2004. Bryant got off the bus when it went through Lt. Governor Wilder’s district declining to campaign for Stallings. Hilleary, Congressman Blackburn and former Governor Winfield Dunn stayed on the bus and campaigned for Stallings as they had throughout the entire campaign.

“I have seen first hand Van Hilleary’s mettle. I have seen him stand up and fight for what he believes in when others would not. Spending in Washington is out of control, we have failed to address the illegal immigration crisis and we are fighting the War on Terror. We need more senators in Washington who will stand up to liberals and fight for our conservative values,” said Stallings. “We need a Senator who won’t get off the bus when going gets tough but someone who will stand up and fight for our values in Washington. I know that Van is the only candidate in this race who possesses those leadership qualities and that is why I am endorsing him. Van is more than a conservative vote –he is a conservative leader.”

Dr. Jesse Cannon, a well regarded West Tennessee physician, hails from Tipton County and is no stranger to tough political battles having challenged the powerful pro-income tax Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh in 2004. Cannon endorsed Hilleary because he believes that Van is a fighter who will stand up to liberals in Washington and fight for conservative values.

“Middle and East Tennesseans know that Van is a fighter because of his leadership in helping to defeat a state income tax. Over the years West Tennesseans have seen Van’s commitment to the conservative cause time and time again when he would travel across the state working to build the Republican Party in the once solidly democrat West Tennessee. Van’s integrity and his courage are what I admire about him and are qualities that will make him a great Senator,” said Cannon. “Tennesseans can count on Van to fight for what he believes in, not because it is politically correct, but because it is the right thing to do. We need more Republican leaders in Washington who will refuse to take the path of least resistance –men who have the courage of their convictions. Van stood by my side and worked to help defeat the powerful Speaker Naifeh and I know that we can count on him to stand up to liberals like Hilleary Clinton and Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate.”

PAID FOR BY HILLEARY FOR SENATE Van Hilleary, a Desert Storm veteran and a four-term Congressman has built a reputation as a straight-talking sincere conservative who stands his ground. In Washington, he was a leader in Class of '94, which enacted a conservative agenda that lowered taxes, reformed welfare and balanced the federal budget for the first time in a generation. Van opposed President Clinton's left-wing agenda on the Budget and Armed Services Committees. Van has always been an advocate of private property rights and of the pro-life cause. At home in Tennessee, Hilleary has been one of the state's leading and most outspoken conservatives - standing up to Don Sundquist and Jimmy Naifeh when they tried to impose a state income tax, even as many other prominent Republicans stood by in silence. Van is a long-time grass-roots party leader. He campaigned for legislative challengers across the state, including challengers to Democrat leaders John Wilder and Jimmy Naifeh, while other leading Republicans refused to help in those tough races.Hilleary starts out the race in the strongest political position. Scientifically sound polling conducted on August 15, 2005 shows Hilleary at 33%, Ed Bryant 15%, and Bob Corker 4% in the GOP primary race.

STOP THE PRESSES: Van Hilleary leading the pack

February 17, 2006

Hilleary's stock rising with Dems

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
By CLINT BREWER
Managing Editor
The Lebanon Democrat

It appears the warm fuzzies are over between Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and former Congressman Van Hilleary.
The dust-up between the two former House colleagues began this week after Ford sent a letter to Hilleary over his use of the word “waltz” in a press release earlier in the month on Ford's abortion and tax records.
Hilleary is part of the Republican field challenging for the right to face Ford, the likely Democratic nominee, in the U.S. Senate race in November.
The two men appeared down right amiable at the first full-blown candidate forum of the campaign season in the Senate race.
Ford, however, took the “waltz” line to be a reference to his family's legal troubles, namely the federal Tennessee Waltz probe of the Tennessee General Assembly and his uncle John Ford's resignation from the State Senate amid federal criminal charges.Hilleary shot back later in the week, echoing his campaign manager Jennifer Coxe who called the original release a “substantive criticism” of Ford’s record on abortion and taxes.
“I agree this campaign should be about issues and records,” Hilleary said in his response letter. “Go back and read the release. It is a substantive criticism of your liberal record. I am proud of my conservative congressional record. You too should be proud of your liberal record.”
The sharp response by Ford may be an indication the Democrat favorite is focusing more on the Republican his campaign believes may be his likely opponent in the fall.Heretofore, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker has been the focus of Tennessee Democrats and Washington D.C. observers who see Corker's fund-raising advantage over the rest of the GOP field as insurmountable.
That school of thought may be changing as internal polling swirling around Tennessee Democratic Party circles show Hilleary with a commanding lead in the primary ­ and leading Corker by more than 20 points and fellow GOP traveler and primary opponent Ed Bryant by as much as 16 points.
Those numbers are in line with Hilleary’s own polling, which the Bryant camp has attacked vigorously. More fire trained on Hilleary by Ford and Democrats may mean the legend of Bob Corker’s money does not mean as much as it used to now with only six months until the primary.


Now we all know it is a long time until August, this is stupendous news for Camp Hilleary! With the WBIR poll showing a HUGE lead in name ID and now a Democrat poll that apparently shows Hilleary with a solid lead over other rivals Corker and Bryant nearly tied for a distant second, it ia great day to a VAN FAN!

Van Hilleary's statement on Bill Jenkins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Coxe
February 15, 2006 615-556-7940

Hilleary Statement on the Retirement of Congressman Jenkins

Murfreesboro, TN - Former Congressman and frontrunner for Tennessee's open U.S. Senate seat Van Hilleary today issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Congressman Bill Jenkins:

"For decades Bill Jenkins has served his community from the Courthouse, to the State House, to the U.S. House. He has had a distinguished career and is a true public servant. Tennesseans have benefited from his service and sacrifice. Our Party will continue to benefit from his leadership and counsel. After a life time of service he and Kathryn deserve to spend time enjoying their wonderful children and grandchildren. Meredith and I thank them for their service and wish the entire Jenkins family the best."

Van Hilleary, a Desert Storm veteran and a four-term Congressman has built a reputation as a straight-talking sincere conservative who stands his ground. In Washington, he was a leader in Class of '94, which enacted a conservative agenda that lowered taxes, reformed welfare and balanced the federal budget for the first time in a generation. Van opposed President Clinton's left-wing agenda on the Budget and Armed Services Committees. Van has always been an advocate of private property rights and of the pro-life cause.

At home in Tennessee, Hilleary has been one of the state's leading and most outspoken conservatives - standing up to Don Sundquist and Jimmy Naifeh when they tried to impose a state income tax, even as many other prominent Republicans stood by in silence. Van is a long-time grass-roots party leader. He campaigned for legislative challengers across the state, including challengers to Democrat leaders John Wilder and Jimmy Naifeh, while other leading Republicans refused to help in those tough races.

Hilleary starts out the race in the strongest political position. Scientifically sound polling conducted on August 15, 2005 shows Hilleary at 33%, Ed Bryant 15%, and Bob Corker 4% in the GOP primary race.

Hilleary ahead in the polls, ahead on the stump

MORE GOOD NEWS FROM CAMP HILLEARY:


In Case You Missed It...Hilleary ahead in the polls, ahead on the stump.

In case you missed it below is the Tennessee Journal's take on the last week's Associated Press Forum in Nashville. It was the first time all five candidates for the United States Senate have appeared together.

From the Tennessee Journal (February 13, 2006):

"Despite a few shots here and there, some of them subtle, the candidates were relatively cordial. Ford and Republican Van Hilleary were perhaps the most comfortable and polished in the event's question-and-answer format, but all five acquitted themselves well. Ed Bryant took a swipe at fellow Republican Bob Corker in his closing statement by remarking that one Republican candidate missed President Bush's recent visit to Nashville because he was in Washington for a fund-raiser hosted by lobbyists. What was billed as a 'meet-and-greet' reception for Corker, not a fund-raiser, was hosted that day by Tennessee Eastman lobbyist Charley Poe and two others. Bryant presented his comment as a response to 'talk' he'd heard about candidates and lobbyists - an apparent reference to the fact that both he and Hilleary lobbied after leaving Congress."

"All five candidates said they would support a military strike against Iran as a last resort to eliminate nuclear weapons capabilities. Corker said he was 'pleased to see that with multilateral talks' the matter had been referred to the United Nations Security Council and was hopeful for a diplomatic solution. Hilleary said he too hoped diplomacy would work but added that 'the U.N. is not exactly the paragon of efficiency and boldness in this process."

Hilleary starts out the race in the strongest political position. Recently, the Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR the Knoxville NBC affiliate released a poll showing that Van Hilleary remains the most popular candidate in this U.S. Senate race. The results of the independent poll as reported confirm an August OnMessage Inc, poll that showed Van Hilleary with a 29-point lead over left leaning Bob Corker and an 18-point lead over his closest conservative competitor Ed Bryant.

It is a great day to a Van Fan!!!!!!!

BOOM! go the reality checks

Charles Badger at The Van Wagon wrote

Pro-Ford Blogger Chris Jackson called Bob Corker "pro-abortion, pro-taxes on
middle class families, and weak on security." He went on to label Corker
"pro-illegal immigration. "Fun is also poked at Corker's polling, "You can tell
that their third place status in their primary is really getting to them."
Ouch.

Jeff Ward at TeamGOP discussed recent history:

There is some evidence in my pro-Hilleary contention. In 2002 the Chairman
of the Republican Senatorial Committee, a fine man named Bill Frist, traveled to
a private home to recruit former Governor Lamar Alexander to run for the US
Senate for fear of losing the seat to a Democrat when another Republican,
Congressman Ed Bryant, who was deemed unviable, was already in the race.
(Alexander told this story at the Madison County Lincoln Day in 2004)

Van Hilleary lost to Phil Bredesen in 2002 and he has to take his lumps for that reality, but at least Van Hilleary was on the first string.