Lee, Blackburn praised at GOP ‘unity’ event

Republican Party leaders and the three top-tier candidates who lost in this week’s primary election for governor gathered in Nashville on Saturday in an effort to show harmony behind the GOP nominees for governor and U.S. Senate, Bill Lee and Marsha Blackburn.

Despite the event being pitched as a display of unity, U.S. Rep. Diane Black, House Speaker Beth Harwell, and Knoxville entrepreneur Randy Boyd, who all lost to Lee in Thursday’s primary, avoided taking questions from reporters.

The party also did not open the gathering up to questions, instead opting to allow Lee, Blackburn, Gov. Bill Haslam, U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden to speak uninterrupted for nearly 20 minutes.

Lee said he was humbled to share the stage with so

many party leaders, who have made Tennessee the envy of other states.

Turning to his former opponents, Lee said, “Let me first say how deeply grateful I am to the three of you for being here and how difficult a journey a primary is but … how valuable it is to me that you all are supportive going forward.”

Remarking about the presence of the four GOP candidates to succeed him, Haslam noted that just two days prior they were in the midst of a really hard fought campaign.

“Unless you’ve ever been in the middle of a campaign and it’s your name on the ballot, you don’t really know what it’s like,” he said.

In the final month of the race, the GOP primary featured attack ads, potentially illegal anonymous text messages, misleading mailers and a last-minute ceaseand-desist letter. Although Boyd and Black attacked Lee in their own ways, the Williamson County businessman opted to stay above the fracas.

Haslam said Black, Boyd and Harwell’s attendance Saturday said “volumes” about their character and commitment to the party, later praising each candidate’s accomplishments.

The governor said when he first met Lee about a decade ago he was someone who wanted to get to the right answer instead of his answer.

“I think we are all really grateful for you being our candidate,” Haslam said.

Haslam also said Lee, who has never served in public office, should rely on Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who has been in the state legislature since the late 1970s and was at Saturday’s event.

Turning to McNally, Lee later admitted, “I have much to learn, as you know. And I look forward to having the privilege to work with you.”

Alexander said he thought this year’s field of GOP candidates for governor were the most talented group the party has ever seen.

“They’re all class acts,” he said. “Their presence here today is a signal of the kind of individuals each one of them is.”

After the event, Boyd and his campaign CEO, Chip Saltsman, declined to answer questions while Black and Harwell quickly avoided reporters.

The unity gathering also allowed party leaders to heap praise on Blackburn, who is the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Blackburn hosted a lunch immediately after the news conference.

Haslam said Saturday’s event was more than a photo opportunity. “To Marsha and Bill, this team is not just here for this photo op. We’re here to help make certain that … Nov. 6 we are all celebrating with you and for the state of Tennessee.”

Golden said Thursday’s election results proved Republicans are energized heading into the general election.

The party also is set to host an event Saturday evening in Nashville that was expected to be an extension of their unity efforts. Given that Black, Boyd and Harwell are not expected to attend, the focus has been shifted to holding a rally for Lee.

This year’s unity gathering was preceded by a similar event the party held in 2010, after a similarly rough primary between Haslam, former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp.

Earlier this week, Ramsey, who called this year’s GOP primary “10 times” rougher than the 2010 election, said he thought the party’s unity efforts would largely be for show.

“They will present a united front but it might not be united yet,” he said. “But by November it will be united.”

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681.