Harold Ford Jr. visits Warren County: Blasts Corker for negative ads

By DUANE SHERRILL Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

U.S. Senate hopeful Harold Ford Jr., made a Monday night visit to Warren County to generate momentum for the Nov. 7 election. Ford talked to supporters inside a horse stable at Prater?s Farm in Centertown.

With nine days to go until the Tennessee election which has captured national attention, U.S. Senate hopeful Harold Ford Jr. was in the middle of nowhere Monday evening, joined by around 1,000 local supporters who he hopes will help him to victory over Republican opponent Bob Corker next Thursday.

The Ford rally was held at the stables of Gary Prater near Centertown Monday evening, bringing a throng of Democratic party faithful to the rural event ? an event where Ford questioned all the negative campaigning by his opponent.

?What on Earth were they thinking, running all these negative ads,? Ford questioned, standing in the packed stables on a makeshift stage, a horse peering out from behind him. ?Did they think we wanted to see that smut and slime??

The West Tennessee congressman said he was raised in a Christian background, noting that while his opponent spouts a Christian agenda, his actions show something else.

?To be a real Christian you not only have to read the Bible, you have to follow it,? Ford said.

Ford, who apologized for being an hour late to the rally, said he was slowed because he stopped at the Wal-Mart parking lot in McMinnville to shake hands and listen to concerns.

?Every single person I talked to in that parking lot mentioned their concern about health care,? Ford said. ?Why do 46 million Americans have no health care insurance when we live in the richest country in the world? We can do better than that.?

While being a life-long Democrat, Ford admitted he always admired Ronald Reagan.

?Bless his soul, I love Ronald Reagan,? Ford said. ?He reminded the world why we are great. Now, that?s something we have to do again.?

Ford said one way is cutting dependence on foreign oil.

?We can?t win a war on terror when we?re funding both sides,? Ford said. ?Our kids shouldn?t have to fight a war to help feed our appetite for oil.?

In conclusion, Ford rallied his supporters, saying the race will be close.

?If you?re sick and tired of being sick and tired, then you know what you need to do between now and Nov. 7,? Ford concluded.