TN-SEN: GOP turns to Trump to rescue Tennessee Senate seat
Republicans predict tonight’s rally will motivate motivate a sluggish base that will be essential to a Blackburn win this fall. Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said he expected supporters would line up for blocks Monday night to catch a glimpse of Trump in Johnson City. The event was in Washington County, in the heart of Trump territory, where the president cleaned up in 2016, winning nearly 70 percent of the vote.
“When you have a president that goes to that length in order to see people, that just absolutely gets our folks very fired up and enthused about what we need to do for the election,” Golden said. “For him to be here, to personally come and talk to the people — 7, 8, 9,000, whatever it ends up being — in an arena setting, is electric.”
Trump’s visit couldn’t have come at a better time for the GOP. Blackburn has fallen behind in recent polls. She’s up against a wealthy two-term ex-governor with statewide name recognition, who’s also popular among the female voters who are uncomfortable with Trump.
For months, the president himself has monitored Blackburn’s polling in the race, according to three White House aides and allies. Trump has personally called her to check in and offer his encouragement, tweeted supportive messages on her behalf and hosted a Nashville rally in the spring. The president, the sources said, was behind deploying Vice President Mike Pence last month to Knoxville, where he headlined a $1,000-a-person Blackburn fundraiser.
Ad spending data show that six Republican-aligned groups have booked airtime for the Tennessee Senate race through November, having spent nearly twice as much on reservations in the final weeks as Democrats.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/01/trump-blackburn-tennessee-senate-855389
PHIL BREDESEN
https://www.bredesen.com
