Sources: State GOP chair resigning, joining Thompson campaign

Head of Tennessee Republican Party served as aide to Thompson in Senate years

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Fred Thompson and Bob Davis

Tennessee Republican Party chairman Bob Davis will be leaving his post to join the "un-official" presidential campaign of former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson, NashvillePost.com has learned.

Davis's departure is not unexpected. He served as Thompson's state director from 1994 until 2002.

According to NashvillePost.com sources, Davis has scheduled a conference call, to take place in the next 36 hours, during which he will inform members of the state GOP's executive committee of his decision. Once that message has been delivered, state Republicans will have 30 days to elect a new chairman.

Among the names rumored to be frontrunners for the job are former state senator and one time gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson and former Tennessee and national Young Republican chairman Larry Kidwell, an investment banker. Both men are residents of Williamson County.

Prior to serving Thompson in the U.S. Senate, Davis has served Republican causes in a number of roles ranging from state political director for the party to congressional district manager for former President George H. W. Bush's successful 1988 campaign.

Davis could not be reached for comment at the time this article was published.