Bill Haslam

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s supporters at the Crowne Plaza Republican headquarters downtown said Thursday night they’re eager to keep the momentum rolling.

They’re anxious for November.

With Haslam officially announced as the Republican gubernatorial primary winner at an unusually early hour – minutes before 10 p.m. – his backers in his hometown are predicting a November victory.

Bryan Farmer predicted the general election in November will be a landslide victory.

“His dad was a great governor, but (Democratic nominee Mike) McWherter doesn’t have any experience,” Farmer said, sporting his Bill Haslam T-shirt. “He doesn’t know the ropes like Mayor Haslam.

“He (Haslam) has ran a city successfully, he’s ran a business successfully and I think that will show through in the November elections.”

Phyllis Severance, the Knox County co-chair of Haslam’s campaign, said she and local supporters will begin work on Monday to make sure their candidate carries the general election in November.

“We’re elated,” she said. “We don’t feel like the big obstacle is over yet. We are going to fight just as hard to win the general election as we did the primary. Bill Haslam is the man for the state.”

Severance said the people of Knox County know what to expect from Haslam.

“He’s so well thought of here,” she said. “People know what kind of governor he will be for this state because of what he’s done for Knoxville. It’s the grassroots people that got him elected.”

Earlier Thursday, Haslam made a couple of campaign stops in Knoxville, including lunch at Wright’s Cafeteria on Middlebrook Pike, before heading to Middle Tennessee.

He’d planned on campaigning in Franklin before heading to the Downtown Nashville Hilton for an election night results party.

“I’m actually proud of the fact that more people have given to our campaign than have ever given a campaign in the history of Tennessee,” Haslam said during remarks at the City County Building.