Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation, criticized U.S. Representative John Rose’s (R-TN-06) gubernatorial campaign strategy following a public social media dispute between Rose and State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston).
The exchange between Rose and Fritts began after Rose posted on social media that he was the “only major candidate” in the Republican gubernatorial primary who was born and raised in Tennessee.
Discussing the spat between the two Republican candidates during Wednesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Phillips dismissed Rose’s characterization of himself as a major candidate in the race.
“It’s not true … he’s definitely not a major candidate,” Phillips said.
Referencing polling that has consistently shown both Rose and Fritts in single digits while perceived frontrunner U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) maintains a commanding lead, Phillips added, “If this were a baseball season, they’d already be mathematically eliminated.”
Phillips also questioned the reasoning behind Rose’s decision to engage publicly with Fritts on social media.
“I’m starting to think John Rose may be the reason why we have warnings telling us not to drink battery acid. Because, what is this idiocy?” Phillips said.
He argued Rose’s campaign lacks a compelling message beyond highlighting his business background.
“His campaign is simply, ‘I’m a CEO. I was successful. Vote for me,’” Phillips said.
He challenged the notion that executive experience alone qualifies a candidate for elected office, citing several prominent business leaders.
“Bill Haslam was a CEO, and I don’t think any of us think he did a good job,” Phillips said. “Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn founder, CEO. Anybody wanna elect him because he was a CEO? … Tom Steyer, he’s a CEO. California, do we wanna elect him as governor? No.”
According to Phillips, Rose’s campaign consultants also deserve scrutiny for the campaign’s current trajectory.
“Whoever’s advising, whoever’s the consultant on John Rose’s campaign, all he’s doing is ripping the guy off,” Phillips said. “All he’s doing is bleeding the guy for money. He has no message.”
Phillips further said Rose entered the governor’s race at an unfavorable time given Blackburn’s statewide popularity and political standing.
“This was a bad cycle to run,” Phillips said. “If you wanted to be governor, bad cycle to run because Marsha Blackburn has the kind of name recognition throughout the state of Tennessee, plus she has run statewide races before.”
He described Blackburn as “essentially a political legend” and added that she is “very conservative” and “checks all the right boxes.”
Phillips also praised Blackburn’s relationships across Tennessee politics, noting, “Every state legislator, she talks to. Members of Congress, she talks to.”
Early voting for the August 6 gubernatorial primary election begins July 17 and runs through August 1.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Monty Fritts” by Monty Fritts.
