Blackburn's road to governor's office made easier; but Cohen holds secret card to triumph big

The next governor of Tennessee will be Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, barring an unforseen occurence that builds a groundswell of opposition to the issue that made her career: stopping a state income tax.

The departure from the race of millionaire doctor and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, leaves the face wide-open.

As a state senator, Blackburn led the charge against creating an income tax in Tennessee. The response was so powerful that the replacement for Gov. Don Sundquist ran on a pledge of no income tax, and Phil Bredesen claimed to be a Democrat.

For the past six years, which has included Blackburn's election to Congress, she also has been the de facto governor. She frequently appears on FOXNEWS. Her political chops are formidable.

But there is one factor that could derail her. No, it's not someone from her political party. It is the intangible of the economy here and nationally.

Gov. Bredesen has no choice -- acing a billion-dollar deficit -- but to cut the state share of local aid. And that action means that property taxes will rise in all counties across the country to replace this money that goes to schools. And people who have lost their jobs would be forced to pay higher taxes with money they do not have.

This tragedy could force Tennesseans to demand a prevailing system for taxation freed of the buying whims of consumers -- sales tax. They'd prefer the people with the means to pay higher taxes do so, while people who have lost their jobs pay less. Sometimes, your house is all you have left in possessions and pride.

A state income tax is based on the ability of those with means and jobs to pay the most. The person who has lost his or her job and has less income gets taxed less.

And the Democrats have one of the most honest politicians in Congressman Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, to carry that banner into battle. Yes, the problem with a state income tax is that lawmakers can raise it annually. But voters can pass a change in the Constitution to put all increases to a vote of the people, or require a two-thirds vote of lawmakers in each house.

A Cohen/Blackburn race would be a barnburner and provide distinct choices. That's what Tennessee needs for the hardness of the times.