Although the election to replace term-limited Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) won’t be until 2010, Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN) has already announced his intention to run for the seat, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Davis likely announced early to preempt popular former Congressman and current leader of the DLC Harold Ford from running for the governorship -- a position in which he has expressed considerable interest. The two are close, with Davis having served as campaign chair for Ford’s unsuccessful 2006 senate bid. Davis explained, “I would imagine that if I’m in the race, he’ll step aside."
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/10/09/davis_announces_early_for_tennessee_governor.htmlThis means TN-4 will probably be an open-seat in the 2010 midterms, and I would imagine the GOP might already be viewing it as a pickup given the elections are likely to occur in the second year of a Democratic Presidency.
TN-4 voted 58%-41% for George W. Bush in 2004, after giving him a 50%-49% victory in 2000.
