Original sentence: An income tax has long been considered the third rail of Tennessee politics.Dunn was able only to hold McWherter's victory margin to just under nine points due to strong support from his former base in Memphis.During his first term, McWherter insisted that all formal governmental proceedings be open to the public and press, thus implementing the spirit, as well as the letter, of the "sunshine law" he had helped to author and sponsor while a member of the House.He began his political career in 1968 when he won a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives from Weakley County.McWherter gave the idea lukewarm support at first, but the idea was eventually dropped entirely, not to resurface again during his time as governor.McWherter would have an overwhelming favorite for a third term if he had been permitted to run for one by the state constitution; when asked about this, he stated that he would not have run for another term even if it had been permissible.Without significant support in East Tennessee for Dunn, McWherter was virtually assured of election in NOvember
Edited sentence: He began his political career in 1968 when he won a seat to the Tennessee House of Representatives from Weakley County.McWherter seemed to understand how unpopular this idea was with the average Tennessee voter, and after giving it a few weeks of lukewarm support, the idea was dropped entirely, not to resurface again during his time as governor.McWherter set an example of progressive and honest leadership by insisting all formal governmental proceedings be open to the public and press, thus implementing the spirit, as well as the letter, of the "sunshine law" he had helped to author and sponsor while a member of the House.McWherter would have easily won a third term if he had been permitted to run for one by the Tennessee constitution; when asked about this, he stated that he would not have run for another term even if it had been permissible.Without significant support in East Tennessee, Dunn was able only to hold McWherter's victory margin to just under nine points due to strong support from his former base in Memphis