NEWPORT-GOP Gubernatorial Candidate and 3rd District Congressman Zach Wamp met with core supporters and Cocke County residents during a visit to Newport on Saturday.

Speaking at the Harvest Street Festival, Wamp, of Chattanooga, said his campaign is going well and added Cocke County would be a great county for him to win.

"I want to thank you sweet women for putting my (campaign) shirts on," said Wamp. "You people are the core of our party. I think we can carry Cocke County.

"Our fundraising is going good across the state. We've raised over $100,000 each of the last two weeks. We're really making a lot of progress."

In an interview with the Plain Talk, Wamp said he has a vision of what Tennessee should look like in 2020 and said there are three areas in particular he wants to address.

"We need improvement in education with better reading," he said. "We need to focus on teaching our children to read earlier. If we can start them in Kindergarten and have them proficient in reading by the third grade, education will improve."

Secondly, Wamp said he wants to address health care.

"We are 47th out of 50 states in health care," he said. "We have drug problems across our state and our infant mortality rate is too high. Only half of the people in Tennessee who need colonoscopies get them.

"We need healthier children. I've always said the power to convene is stronger than the power to legislate. I would activate a grassroots effort to make our state healthier."

Finally, Wamp said he wants to see the creation of more jobs in the state.

"We have to grow jobs by putting together an economic development plan. We got Volkswagen to come to Chattanooga. The most optimistic people in the state, when it comes to jobs, are in Southeast Tennessee...the area I represent."

Wamp, who was first elected to Congress in 1994, said he believes his experience, his accomplishments, and his stance on the issues set him aside from other candidates.

"I have 15 years of experience with proven results and a vision," said Wamp. "My time in Congress will help me to help our state.

"I believe in the values of pro guns and pro life.

"I'm a fighter. I'm red-blooded middle class. I wasn't born at home plate; I had to round all the bases to get here. I will be a strong, middle class, hands-on governor."