Knoxville’s attracting some prospective Republican presidential candidates.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican running for re-election against Democrat Charlie Crist, will speak here Wednesday, Sept. 21, at an 11:30 a.m. luncheon at Copper Cellar West.
The private event is “a sellout at 140,” Susan Richardson Williams, long-time GOP stalwart who helped organize the luncheon, said Thursday.
And former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley did more than pick up a Patriot Award at the Congressional Medal of Honors celebration while in Knoxville a week ago. She spoke at a Republican fundraising event for U.S. Reps. Tim Burchett and Diana Harshbarger, where she was described as a potential presidential or vice presidential candidate.

“I hope to see her on a national ticket very soon,” Burchett, a Knoxvillian who represents the 2nd Congressional District, said at a barbeque in…