NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee Republican lawmaker Stacey Campfield (R-Knox) is asking a judge to dismiss a $750,000 libel lawsuit on the basis that his blog is covered by legislative immunity.

The lawsuit filed by Roger Byrge, an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the state House last year, alleges that Rep. Campfield of Knoxville falsely wrote on his blog in the weeks before the election that Byrge had been arrested several times on drug charges.

Byrge lost the race for the open House District 36 seat to Republican Chad Faulkner by 391 votes.

In a response to the lawsuit filed in Jacksboro, Campfield's attorney writes that the lawmaker's statements are "absolutely privileged" as part of his duties as a state representative.

Byrge's attorney responds that no such privilege exists, and that Campfield's blog post was defamatory and politically motivated.

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On the Net:

Campfield's blog: http://lastcar.blogspot.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)