Rep. Lincoln Davis stressed his conservative credentials as he formally announced his plans to seek a fifth term in November. He’s a Democrat in a central Tennessee swing district — a district that in 2008 sent him back to Congress while voting for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president by a 30-point margin.

Davis chose to highlight his membership in the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats, his anti-abortion beliefs and his support of gun rights in his statement Monday.

“I have always put my independent Tennessee values and the needs of my constituents ahead of partisan politics, and I will continue to do so,— Davis said.

Davis spent the latter part of 2009 quashing speculation that he might opt to run for governor rather than re-election in the House. But he was doing some fundraising at the same time; his campaign had $220,000 in cash on hand as 2010 began after raising a little less than $130,000 in the final quarter of 2009.

Physician Scott DesJarlais, a Republican who entered the contest in July, had $97,000 in the bank at the end of 2009. Conservative activist Don Strong reported $103,000 in cash on hand.

National Republicans expressed early support for DesJarlais but have more recently expressed enthusiasm for Jack Bailey, an attorney and former Congressional staffer who entered the race in January and has said he has raised more than $100,000 for the contest.