Wamp: 'One hundred percent reconciled'

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp declared after he had lunch Friday with Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Haslam the two are "one hundred percent reconciled" and ready to move forward in the campaign.

Wamp said he told Haslam he could use his name when compiling endorsements.

The two had waged a spirited campaign in the Republican primary, along with Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, and Wamp had been particularly hard on Haslam in the final days of the primary race.

Wamp and Haslam, mayor of Knoxville, met at the Flatwater Grill in Oak Ridge on Friday, in full view of other diners.

"They asked if we wanted to be back in the corner. I said no, let's just put us right out here in the middle of everybody," Wamp said. "So I pretty much spoke to all the people ahead of time, and he was shaking hands after it was over. But he came in and sat right down."

Haslam said through his campaign spokesman David Smith that he was pleased with the meeting.

"Zach and I had a great lunch today, and our conversation was focused on the future of Tennessee and how we can work together to make it the best it can be," Haslam said in a formal statement. "Specifically we spent much of our time talking about economic development and job-related issues in Oak Ridge and Southeast Tennessee.

"Zach has done an outstanding job as the 3rd District congressman, and he wants to make sure that it stays strong and at the forefront of creating high-quality jobs." 

Wamp said Haslam asked him to help him along the way and addressed a "whole host of issues," including economic development, which Wamp noted has been successful in his congressional district.

Wamp said the two also discussed a preventative health and wellness agenda and growing the defense sector in Tennessee, which were key issues in Wamp's candidacy.

"In the campaign I talked about the importance of these issues, but he's more interested in technically how do you do this?" Wamp said. "I was just giving him some ideas and suggestions. He said he wanted to use me as a resource and adviser in these areas."

Haslam faces Mike McWherter, the Democratic nominee, in the general election Nov. 2. Haslam has spoken recently of the desire to reach out to supporters of his former opponents.

Wamp said the two talked about issues involving Oak Ridge, which Wamp is well-versed on, the Tennessee Technology Corridor and issues of importance in Memphis. Both men have emphasized the need for attention on Memphis in the next administration.

"It was a really positive meeting," Wamp said. "Just the two of us for lunch. I can report that Bill Haslam and Zach Wamp are one hundred percent reconciled. He's my friend. He's a good and decent man and is going to make an outstanding governor.

"But it's going to be a very difficult period. He's fully aware of that."

Economic issues were a major point of the discussion.

"We talked about some of the major challenges he faces, because some of the things the state is used to doing, financially, are just not going to be possible. We talked through all those issues," Wamp said.

Wamp said the conversation included a "little lookback" at the campaign and that the two talked about their families. Haslam asked Wamp about his plans, which are undetermined. One of the fields Wamp has talked about getting into is something in the media, and he said Haslam encouraged him to pursue that.

"We kind of reconnected as men and had a really good lunch and had a chance to pray together," Wamp said.

"It was just a real good opportunity for us to debrief and reconnect and establish a real positive relationship, so I couldn't have asked for a better hour with Bill Haslam."

Wamp said he felt confident Haslam will be elected.

Wamp said the timing of the meeting was good this far after the Aug. 5 primary, when Haslam won handily with 47 percent of the vote to Wamp's 29 percent and Ramsey's 22. 

"I think the perfect amount of time had passed, because campaigns are bruising and particularly with the family," Wamp said. "The bruises go away over time, but sometimes it takes a little time, so that's basically where we are today.

"It was really good and comprehensive, and at the end of it we both looked at each other, and said what else do we need to talk about? That was pretty much it for now, but certainly I expect to talk to him more in the future," he said.

Wamp said that he was willing to go to Knoxville for the meeting but that Haslam had asked his staff where he would be and that when he was told Oak Ridge Haslam suggested the Flatwater Grill, where they had had a dinner together during the campaign.

One of the other diners at the restaurant Friday was Rick Meredith, assistant commissioner for business development in the Bredesen administration, who was at the next table.

"I told Rick ahead of time, 'Bill Haslam is coming in here to have lunch with me, but we'll try not to interrupt y'all's conversation,'" Wamp said. "He had a good laugh about that."