On paper, George Flinn is Sen. Lamar Alexander’s worst nightmare: A mega-rich self-funder willing to dump a huge amount of cash into the Tennessee Republican primary.
In reality, Flinn is all about a single issue: Health care.
Flinn, a Memphis radiologist and radio magnate, filed papers this week to run in the crowded primary against Alexander, the two-term senator, former Education secretary and ex-governor of Tennessee. Flinn, who ran for the House in 2010 and 2012, spent roughly $ 5 million of his own in those unsuccessful bids for Congress.
(Launching April 9 – Campaign Pro: Your guide to the permanent campaign)
This time against Alexander, Flinn is once again ready to pour big bucks in the Republican Senate primary — but not to attack Alexander. In fact, he said: “I like him, we’re friends.”
“I’m not running against him,” Flinn said in an interview. “I’m running for this plan.”
Flinn may spend millions promoting what he dubs the Patient Centered Health Plan that would overhaul the current health care system to implement a more free-market approach. Flinn said he hadn’t decided how much he’d be willing to spend of his own cash, but added: “I’m going to do whatever it takes to get this message out.”
(PHOTOS: Senators up for election in 2014)
But Flinn vowed that he wouldn’t attack Alexander in his sustained ad buys and would instead run a “very positive campaign.”
Such words may be a relief to Alexander given that Flinn’s networth is estimated to be between $ 30 million and $ 104 million, according to financial disclosure records.
Indeed, Alexander appears likely to skate to reelection in November despite amassing a bipartisan record in the Senate that tea party activists have seized upon. Even though his politics are conservative-leaning, Alexander has burnished a reputation for working with Democrats and has backed controversial measures and nominations, including Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court in 2009, the 2008 Wall Street bailout and the 2013 immigration bill.
But tea party forces have been unable to mobilize against him. Eight candidates filed against Alexander ahead of Thursday’s filing deadline, though it’s unclear how many will ultimately end up on the ballot for the August primary. State Rep. Joe Carr has been in the race against Alexander for months after dropping a bid for the House, but he has yet to gain traction in the polls or in fundraising.
The challenges that tea party groups are having in Tennessee are emblematic of their struggles nationwide. Even though a number of GOP incumbents are facing primary challenges in conservative states like South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee, they seem likely to easily survive in the intraparty contests.
Sen. John Cornyn, the Texas Republican, skated to victory over a tea party challenger in his primary last month. Sen. Pat Roberts in Kansas also appears well-positioned against physician Milton Wolf. Sen. Thad Cochran, the six-term Mississippian, appears to be the most vulnerable Republican incumbent, as he faces a spirited push by state Sen. Chris McDaniel.
Alexander seems to be on safe ground as well. Before Flinn filed his papers this week, he called Alexander up as a courtesy because he has “the ultimate respect for the man.”
And when asked if Flinn believed Alexander was a good senator, he paused and said: “For the things that have come up for the time? Yes.”
In an interview at the Capitol this week, Alexander returned the compliment.
“I’ve known him a long time, he’s a friend of mine,” said Alexander, whose campaign has $ 3.1 million in cash.
Asked if Flinn should be considered a threat, Alexander would only say: “I’m doing my job as a United States senator and doing my best to continue to earn the respect of the people of Tennessee.”
Alexander challenger: "We"re friends"
