All bets on Knoxville in Tennessee U.S. Senate race

Both Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr. were in town today for one big final East Tennessee push before the election tomorrow.

Report and more photos after the jump...

Bob Corker Rally, 9:30 AM

Corker had a rally downtown at Krutch Park, where he was joined on stage by an all-star GOP lineup including Sen. Bill Frist, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Congressman Jimmy Duncan, Mayor Bill Haslam, and Bob Corker's wife Elizabeth. There was a crowd of about 150 GOP supporters and local GOP who's who including Sheriff Tim Hutchison, State Sen. Jamie Woodson, Knoxville City Councilwoman Marilyn Roddy, and we even met Brian Hornback.

The introductions and speeches were brief and without much substance. Saxby Chambliss asked how many had voted early, and how many had voted Republican. He said that Sam Furrow would give everyone who voted early and voted Republican a new Mercedes Benz. (Note to self: Check with my Dad to see if he's got a free Mercedes coming.)

Bill Frist got the crowd going a little with a "Republicans are right, Democrats are wrong" call and response. Democrats are apparently wrong on cutting and running, increasing taxes, dependence on foreign oil, supporting predatory trial lawyers, and appointing activist judges.

John McCain started by saying that he had a message from the Phoenix chamber of commerce that it was 85 degrees over there and they take all kinds of plastic for those interested in going. He said that Corker's experience as mayor was a great qualification because being mayor is harder than being a senator. He also said the Bob Corker would provide all expenses paid trips to Bob's victory party in D.C.

Republicans appear to be big on incentives.

Bob Corker gave a mostly uninspiring speech about momentum in the polls, and the fact that he's from Tennessee and has lived a Tennessee life. He said that John Kerry and Ted Kennedy gave Ford $1 million to influence the race. He said Tennesseans are the only ones who should influence the race and that he'd rather stand on the stage with McCain and Chambliss than with Kerry and Kennedy, or something like that.

We were both sort of surprised by the lack of energy and enthusiasm, but I guess it was an older, more subdued crowd. Or maybe they were just dumbstruck by all the GOP star power on display. At any rate, it was an efficiently run event, as I imagine most Republican events are.

Harold Ford Jr. Rally, 12:30 PM

After the Corker rally we headed over to West Knoxville for the Harold Ford Jr. rally. There was some confusion about the venue, but everyone eventually landed at Calhouns on Bearden Hill. Congressman Ford was in Chattanooga this morning, and was running about an hour and a half late. (When he arrived he apologized for being late but said that he was mobbed in Chattanooga and just couldn't leave.) His campaign advance people told those who were there at 11:00 to go on in and have lunch on the Ford campaign while they waited.

When he arrived it was the usual mob scene. He gave a fairly long interview to local media (including our friend Amelia Daniels from WATE). He went inside the restaurant and shook every hand and asked for every vote. Lincoln Davis was there, too, helping work the crowd.

David Muir from ABC's Good Morning America was there. Apparently he has been on a three day road trip to states with key congressional races. Ford gave him an extensive interview just before leaving. Amelia Daniels said that there was a Nightline producer there, so some of that interview could be on Nightline tonight.

We estimate there were around 200 people or more inside and outside Calhouns. It was a pleasure seeing Betty Bean and Madeline Rogero there. We also ran into Scott Emge, and met Mark Cawood, Mark Seigel, and Bill Young in person. We had seen Bill at every Ford event but didn't know who he was, so thanks to Betty for introducing us. There were apparently more than a few KnoxViewers there.

There weren't any speeches, but check the local news this evening for Ford's remarks, and possibly Nightline and Good Morning America tomorrow.

At the Corker rally...

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Congressman Jimmy Duncan