The race that has been a pleasant surprise is Lowe Finney's challenge to Don McLeary for the state Senate representing Carroll, Gibson and Madison counties. Finney is building momentum rapidly and campaigns tirelessly. Meanwhile, I have found McLeary's TV commercials problematic as they extol his legislative record but fail to point out that whatever meaningful thing he accomplished was done as a Democrat with Democratic support. It probably helps to be a Democrat when the governor and lieutenant governor are also Democrats, in fact I believe McLeary's record would be very different, probably invisible, had he taken the low road earlier and traded parties sooner. The good news is that Finney's challenge has evolved from an anti-McLeary race into a very strong pro-Finney effort in its own right with widespread support. People just like Lowe. I believe he is our next state senator, and ought to be.