Frist '74 won't rule out run for governor

Less than two weeks after Bill Frist '74 said he doesn't intend to make a bid for the presidency in 2008, Tennessee political observers said the outgoing Senate majority leader would be a strong candidate in the state's 2010 gubernatorial race.

Frist did not rule out the possibility of a run for governor when asked on Monday, saying that it was an option he'd "consider for the future" but hadn't thought too much about, The Tennessean newspaper reported yesterday.

Political insiders quoted in the story said that Frist's political experience and considerable financial resources would put him in a good position for a possible run.

State Republican Party Chairman Bob Davis, who described a potential Frist candidacy as "formidable," told the newspaper that Republicans in 2010 will be eager to regain the governor's mansion after an eight-year absence.

On Nov. 29, Frist declared that he would not make a bid for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, as some had predicted, because he wanted to return to his medical work and spend more time with his family.

The announcement followed sweeping Democratic gains in the recent midterm elections as well the release of polls showing that other potential Republican nominees, including former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), led Frist by significant margins.

Frist's struggles stemmed in part from allegations that he engaged in insider trading when he sold shares in HCA, Inc., a hospital chain that was founded by Frist's father and uncle.

In April 2005, University students organized the "Frist filibuster" outside Frist Campus Center, protesting attempts by Senate Republicans to prevent Democrats from blocking conservative judicial nominees.

In interviews last night, students from Tennessee expressed opposing views on the possibility of a Frist governorship.

"I think that Senator Frist served our state very well as senator, which was evident in his leadership as Senate majority leader," Ben Deloache '07 said.

"I think that he is a person that all Princeton students and all young people should look up to, and I would definitely support him in a race for governor."

But Clay Dukes '07 said that Frist's recent fall from power might damage his election chances. "I would not vote for him," Dukes said. "First of all, I'm a Democrat and following his demise from the Senate majority leadership, he's looking to lose a lot of credibility."