TN-4: Does Scott DesJarlais have a Dem opponent?

[Miles]

Yes, Eric Stewart was about as good a candidate Democrats could draft here.

[Miles]

FWIW, this district actually got bluer in redistricting, though marginally. It went from 64/34 McCain to 62/37, IIRC.

[Miles]

Still Lean/Likely R, this part of the country has been trending R pretty hard.

However, if Obama performs here as polling has said he might...

What's TN-08 looking like? Isn't it "only" R+6?

Most of the local Democratic counties were transferred to TN-07 and TN-08 now takes in a much larger part of the Memphis suburbs. Its now up to 64% McCain.

[Miles]

Still Lean/Likely R, this part of the country has been trending R pretty hard.

However, if Obama performs here as polling has said he might...

What's TN-08 looking like? Isn't it "only" R+6?

Most of the local Democratic counties were transferred to TN-07 and TN-08 now takes in a much larger part of the Memphis suburbs. Its now up to 64% McCain.

Aah, ok.

Is TN-07 really R too?

Yes; it was "unpacked" a bit with the Republican redistricting, but its still 62% McCain.

[Miles]

FWIW, this district actually got bluer in redistricting, though marginally. It went from 64/34 McCain to 62/37, IIRC.

Not really bluer. They added harder (suburban) R support.

I thought that too at first, but in DRA, the REP average of the old one was 56.4% and the new one is less than 57% too, so the change isn't as dramatic as I thought downballot. I guess the DEM average in Rutherford county could have been inflated somewhat though because it always elected Gordon in landslides.