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Tim McGraw, Tennessee Governor? Not happening...for now

11:24 a.m. · December 16, 2008 · by Ethan Stanislawski

You'd be surprised at all the country musicians who are cardcarrying members of the Democratic Party. Lost in the feud between the Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith was that both parties were Demmycrats. Tim McGraw may be the most liberal of all of them. While Keith is busy writing mock anti-Happy Holidays songs for Stephen Colbert, McGraw, who has sold over 40 million albums, may have had something bigger in mind: a run for the governorship of Tennessee.

McGraw, who was raised in Louisiana while his dad was pitching for the Mets and Phillies, was rumored by The New Republic to be a possible opponent of Bill "Doc" Frist in 2010. Since Frist is a high profile name, the speculation was that an equally big name would need to match him. A McGraw rep took the Nashville recording artist's name out of the race, but left the door open for a gubernatorial bid in the future, saying "It's something he is interested in, but not for 2010. Later in life." Hmm, Obama denied he was running a few months before he announced his campaign, and that denial was much more abject. This story may not end here.

Here's what McGraw himself had to say on the matter:

"I've always been fascinated by what can be done in the public arena. And if the time comes where there's something available and I think I can do some positive things, I'll be glad to do it. I wouldn't want to do it just to say I did it."

But, he added with a laugh, "I think I gotta get a lot smarter between now and then!"

Well, if his career in politics fails, he can always go sky diving, or go Rocky Mountain climbing...

[People]