From timesfreepress.com:

This is the big one, Tennessee Republicans say: the opportunity in fall elections to win the governorship, capture a majority of congressional seats and solidify GOP control of the General Assembly.

GOP leaders are keeping their fingers crossed that 2010 elections will put the party in its strongest position since post-Civil War Reconstruction, just in time to redraw 132 legislative districts and nine congressional seats for 2012 elections.

“Certainly we’re not taking anything for granted, but I believe it’s going to be a very good year for Republicans across the state,” state party Chairman Chris Devaney said.

State Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester says that’s “preposterous.”

“They have just come out of a set of primaries that have been about as bloody as I have seen in 20 years,” said Forrester. He said Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike McWherter should win his race, and so should Democrats in two open congressional races. The party is also in excellent position to retake the state House from Republicans, he said.

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