NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip Races Into Marsha Blackburn’s Corner

U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn has received a high-octane endorsement. Blackburn’s Senate campaign launched a new television ad Monday featuring NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip. The ad will air in media markets across the state and on digital platforms statewide. The video is available to watch here. Speaking about the ad, U.S. Representative Blackburn (R-TN-07) said, “Darrell and Stevie Waltrip and their family are treasured friends of our family. D.W. wants his next Senator to represent our shared conservative values in the Senate, and I’m the only one Tennesseans can count on to do that. I’m grateful for his support as we head into the final laps of the campaign.” Here is the transcript: Waltrip: “I’m Darrell Waltrip. I made a career out of going fast and turning left. That works on the track, but not so good in Washington. Phil Bredesen will go along to get along with Washington liberals on taxes, immigration, and Obamacare. That’s why we need Marsha Blackburn at the wheel.” Blackburn: “Are you going to keep talking or are we going to roll?” Waltrip: “Boogity, boogity, boogity – let’s win this race!” Blackburn: “I’m Marsha Blackburn, and I approve this message.” Voiceover: “Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee.” Waltrip is not Blackburn’s only…

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Latinos for Tennessee PAC Endorses Seven Republican Candidates

A Latino political action committee has released the names of Republican candidates it supports in Tennessee state and federal mid-term elections which will be held on Nov. 6. The Latinos for Tennessee PAC said it has endorsed: Reverend Tommy Vallejos, Tennessee House of Representatives, District 67 Brian Kelsey, Tennessee State Senate, District 31 Dr. Mark Green, U.S. Congress, District 7 Scott DesJarlais, U.S. Congress, District 4 John Rose, U.S. Congress, District 6 Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senate Bill Lee, Tennessee governor Latinos for Tennessee Executive Director Raul Lopez said, “We are happy to support these candidates who have demonstrated their commitment to defending faith, family, freedom, and fiscal responsibility.” “I’m inspired and encouraged by each of these excellent candidates,” Lopez said. “At each level, they’re working on policies that make sense, that preserve the freedoms that make this country the land of opportunity. Members of the Hispanic community, and all citizens, want the opportunity to flourish here in Tennessee.” “We encourage all Tennesseans to vote on November 6.” Latinos for Tennessee PAC is a political action committee committed to protecting and promoting faith and family, freedom, and fiscal responsibility among Tennessee’s growing Latino population. The mission of Latinos for Tennessee is…

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Corker Predicts Kavanaugh Will Be Confirmed to SCOTUS

U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) said he thinks Judge Brett Kavanaugh will be confirmed. The Hill reported on Corker’s statement Wednesday. Corker said on Tuesday evening that he is confident Senate Republicans will have enough votes to confirm Kavanaugh by “no later than Saturday.” Corker also accused Democrats of having “overplayed their hand” in leveling accusations of sexual misconduct and assault by several women and demanding an FBI investigation. The Senate had previously been scheduled to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination but the Republican majority on Friday agreed to a demand from some members to delay the vote by one week to give the FBI more time to investigate the accusations. “Cloture may be filed tomorrow … it feels to me like the FBI reports could come in as early as tomorrow, maybe Thursday … my guess is we’re going to vote no later than Saturday,” Corker said in an interview. He said he had spoken to his colleagues about the matter. Corker is retiring from the Senate. Running for his seat are U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) and Democratic former Governor Phil Bredesen. Blackburn has been criticizing her opponent for staying silent on whether he would support Kavanaugh. Blackburn said recently,…

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Blackburn Campaign Releases New Ad Highlighting How Tennesseans Really Feel About Bredesen

Marsha Blackburn’s U.S. Senate campaign on Wednesday launched its fifth television ad telling how Tennesseans feel about Phil Bredesen. The responses are not favorable for the Democratic candidate. The ad, Non-Starter, is available to watch here. One voter says he voted for Bredesen as governor but “I can’t support Bredesen for Senate.” Another voter says, “Bredesen opposes building the wall,” while one says, “And now Washington Democrats are behind him.” Another comment was, “Bredesen opposed Trump’s tax cuts.” Speaking about the ad, Blackburn campaign manager Kevin Golden said, “These Tennessee voters come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they liked Phil Bredesen as governor but cannot vote for him for Senate. Like Tennesseans across the state, they know Phil Bredesen supported Hillary Clinton for president and he will be a reliable vote for Chuck Schumer and national Democrats. They recognize that in 2018, the stakes are high, and Marsha Blackburn is the only person they can count on to represent their Tennessee values in the United States Senate.” U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) recently announced her renewed support for President Donald Trump after U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called for his impeachment. In an off-the-cuff moment caught…

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Bredesen ‘Dodging Making a Commitment’ on Kavanaugh SCOTUS Confirmation, Following Schumer’s Instructions

Phil Bredesen

U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) on Wednesday released a statement on Phil Bredesen’s recent comments about Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bredesen still isn’t ready to say whether he supports the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, The Tennessean reported. “Judge Brett Kavanaugh is eminently qualified and there is no question he will uphold the rule of law,” Blackburn, a Republican candidate for the Senate, said. “His extensive record speaks for itself. There is nothing left to be determined – the facts are on the table. “It appears that Phil Bredesen is dodging making a commitment because of what we already know – Schumer has told Democrats to stay neutral as long as they can, and Phil Bredesen is already following orders. I will always vote to confirm judges that abide by the rule of law and the Constitution. Obviously, Phil Bredesen will not make that commitment to Tennesseans because he’ll only vote when and how Chuck Schumer tells him. That’s not what Tennesseans want or expect from their next senator.” Bredesen, a former Tennessee governor, said he needs more time to watch confirmation hearings and study the pick. He is pro-abortion but says Kavanaugh’s pro-life stance will not affect his…

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Bredesen May Compare Senate Democrats to ‘Circus’ for Kavanaugh Hearings, But They Donated $30,000 to Campaign

Democrats have turned Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination into a circus, U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen said, and the Tennessee Republican Party has released a new ad to point out his ties to those Democrats. The ad is available to watch here. Four Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have donated money to Bredesen’s campaign. The senators are: Cory Booker (D-NJ), $5,000; Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), $10,000; Kamala Harris (D-CA), $10,000; and Dick Durbin (D-IL), $5,000. The GOP cited this campaign finance report in a press release. “Phil Bredesen says he’s ’embarrassed’ by his fellow Democrats’ antics, but it’s hard to take his complaints seriously when he’s received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from those very same people,” Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden said in the press release. “The makeup of the Supreme Court is a priority for Tennesseans. Phil should quit waffling and tell them where he stands.” Former Tennessee Governor Bredesen said he cannot make a decision until he has more time to watch the confirmation hearings and study the selection, according to a story in The Tennessean. The Democratic candidate, who is pro-abortion, said Kavanaugh’s pro-life stance would not matter to…

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Pence to Headline Knoxville Fundraiser for Blackburn

Vice President Mike Pence will headline a fundraiser in Knoxville for Republican U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) in her Senate bid. An event invitation says the fundraiser will be Sept. 21, WATE reports, citing the Associated Press. The cost will be $1,000 per person; $5,400 per couple, with a photo; or $25,000 per couple, including a photo and round-table with Pence. Contributions will benefit Blackburn’s joint fundraising committee. President Donald Trump appeared at a Blackburn fundraiser and rally in May. Pence attended a Chattanooga fundraiser and related event in Cleveland in July. At the Cleveland event, held at Lee University, Pence praised Blackburn and Representative Diane Black (R-TN-06), The Tennessee Star reported. Black eventually lost in the Republican gubernatorial primary to Bill Lee. “The former Indiana governor called the 2017 tax cuts the biggest in a generation and a generator of American jobs in front of a raucous crowd,” the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported: “His wide-ranging 33-minute speech at Lee University addressed immigration, tax cuts, Supreme Court nominations, environmental rollbacks and chastised the ‘liberal left’ before narrowing his message to tax cuts.” Blackburn’s opponent is Democratic ex-Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen in the November general election. Blackburn last week received…

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Blackburn to Debate Bredesen Sept. 25 at Cumberland University

Marsha Blackburn, Phil Bredesen

Marsha Blackburn announced she will participate in the Sept. 25 debate in Lebanon for the U.S. Senate race. The 7 p.m. CT debate will be held at Cumberland University. Hosts are The Tennessean, the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, News Channel 5 (WTVF), Nashville Public Television and Cumberland University. The debate will air on NewsChannel 5 and NPT in Nashville and will be carried statewide on public television, and will stream online on the hosts’ sites. Blackburn and Bredesen are vying for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker. “There are significant differences between how Phil Bredesen and I will serve Tennesseans in the Senate, and this debate will highlight that contrast,” said Rep. Blackburn (R-TN-07) in a press release. “I appreciate the hard work of the event’s organizers and volunteers. I look forward to a substantive discussion about the future of our state and our country as part of our general election debates.” NewsChannel 5 said anchor Rhori Johnston and David Plazas, the opinion engagement editor at The Tennessean, will co-moderate the debate. Blackburn is a better choice for Tennessee than Democratic former Gov. Bredesen, A recent poll by Gravis Marketing shows Blackburn leads Bredesen…

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Holt: Bredesen Wrong For Tennessee as Senator, Would Not Stand Up to Democrats

Marsha Blackburn, Andy Holt, Phil Bredesen

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) is a better choice for the U.S. Senate than Democratic former Gov. Bredesen, one state representative said. Blackburn and Bredesen are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Bob Corker. State Rep. Andy Holt (R-76) wrote the comments about Bredesen and Blackburn in an op-ed in the Jackson Sun. “Just look at his (Bredesen’s) failure to denounce Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen (District 9), who said he wished Marsha Blackburn would jump off a bridge, or Mark Brown, the spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party who called President Trump a “moron” and his supporters ‘idiots.’ I guess I am one of those idiots. If he won’t stand up to his Democrats buddies in Tennessee for using the violent and partisan language that he claims to despise, because it plagues our country, who’s to say he’ll be able to do it in Washington? “Now that he’s running for office, he is telling you what he thinks you want to hear — that he’ll work across the aisle and won’t block the president at every turn. The reality is legislators — especially in the United States Senate — must pick a team, and he will be…

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Marsha Blackburn Responds to ‘Hurtful’ Violent Remarks Steve Cohen Made About Jumping Off Bridge

Marsha Blackburn

Ed Henry of Fox News interviewed Tennessee U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn Friday about U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s violent remarks about her. Henry remarked, “It seems like incivility in politics is growing worse by the day.” He then played audio of Cohen (D-TN-09) saying he wished President Donald Trump would tell U.S. Rep. Blackburn (R-TN-07) to jump off a bridge in Memphis. The increasingly erratic Memphis Democrat made the statements at a prayer breakfast last month that was hosted by former Gov. Phil Bredesen, Blackburn’s opponent in the Senate race. The audio recording revealed that Cohen said, “The big orange president…he’s going to come down here and he’s going to endorse Marsha Blackburn, because Marsha Blackburn – if he says, ‘Jump off the Harahan Bridge,’ she’ll jump off the Harahan Bridge. I wish he’d say that.” Henry asked Blackburn for her reaction to the recording and Cohen’s claim he was joking. Blackburn said, “It’s hurtful to hear that. Steve is someone who was a colleague of mine in the state Senate and then we’ve served in Congress together. I have worked with him on issues like infant mortality issues in Shelby County, and we serve in the same delegation so…

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Marsha Blackburn Launches Her General Election Bid for US Senate, Declares 2018 Will Be About Security

Brian Wilson, Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Senate hopeful Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) appeared on WTN’s Nashville Morning News with Brian Wilson Thursday morning to discuss her reaction to the fallout from the foul-mouthed Democratic spokesman Mark Brown, as well as her plans for her campaign going forward in the general election against Phil Bredesen. After opening nicities, Brian Wilson asked, “So tell me, where does election day find you this morning? Where are you?” Rep Blackburn answered, “I’m going to be all over Middle Tennessee. Yesterday I was over in East Tennessee, and then today I’ll be in Middle Tennessee, I’m going to go vote – and looking forward to doing that – and then visit with volunteers as we get ready to go through this day. Looking forward to the results tonight.” BW: Well, this is really sort of the kickoff for you, because you are just starting your TV ads. Phil Bredesen has been out there for a while, trying to reach out to, you know, the moderate voters or some of the Trump supporters. He’s saying he can work with President Trump and he’s coming across – reaching out across the aisle – looking for voters on the other side. And yet…

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Marsha Blackburn Announces Pro-Life Coalition

Marsha Blackburn

Rep. Marsha Blackburn announced she has assembled a pro-life coalition of more than 500 advocates from across Tennessee Blackburn said, “The first of our rights is the right to life. It is both my duty and honor to protect life, and I am honored to have such a committed group of Tennesseans supporting my campaign for Senate. In the Senate, I will continue to stand for the sanctity of life and the protection of women and unborn children.” Gianna Jessen is chair of the Marsha for Senate Pro-Life Coalition. She said, “I am happy to endorse Marsha Blackburn for the U.S. Senate. As someone who actually survived an abortion and was born in an abortion clinic, I am alarmed, as I observe so many politicians get to Washington, D.C., and care more for the applause of men than they do about the three thousand unborn children that die in America each day. The blood of innocents cries from the ground, like that of the blood of Abel. God remembers each one, and the generations lost with them. The unborn need a defender. Marsha is the woman for this task, for this purpose and for this hour.” The co-chairs are: Lee…

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Marsha Blackburn Launches Senate General Election Campaign with Series of Events in Middle Tennessee

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn is hitting the road hard on Primary Election Day to generate the enthusiasm and energy she is needing to propel her to a win over Democrat Phil Bredesen in their November U.S. Senate race. Blackburn started the day with a morning breakfast at the City Cafe in Brentwood with about 237 supporters, including Governor Bill Haslam, State Senator Jack Johnson, Williamson County Sheriff Bill Long, County Mayor Rogers Anderson, and several other local officials, party activists and community leaders. The packed crowd heard Governor Haslam point out that the race against Bredesen won’t just determine whether New York Senator Chuck Schumer gets another vote closer to running the Senate, but could clearly impact the future confirmation of conservative, Constitutionalist federal judges and Justices to the Supreme Court. Haslam also noted that if the Democrats are able to take control of the Senate, thanks to the votes of prospective Senators like Phil Bredesen, it also means a change in Committee Chairs in the Senate. “Phil Bredesen in the Senate could mean liberal Diane Feinstein replacing Chuck Grassley as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, making it almost impossible to have conservative judicial appointments get a hearing much less…

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Tennessee Right to Life Endorses Dr. Mark Green for Congress

Mark Green

Tennessee Right to Life announced Tuesday it has endorsed Dr. Mark Green to represent the people of Tennessee’s 7th district in the US House of Representatives. “Mark Green understands the crucial importance of protecting human life and has devoted his public and professional life to the care of the weak and vulnerable. Tennessee Right to Life looks forward to continuing to work alongside Mark Green to affirm the dignity of every life,” the pro-life group’s  President Brian Harris said in a statement. The campaign said that with over 13,000 community health clinics that provide women’s services, Green believes “it’s past time to stop subsidizing Planned Parenthood—the nation’s largest abortion provider—with taxpayers’ money;” adding that – as one of only seven countries that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks – Green will lead the fight to pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. “As a physician, I know firsthand that life begins at conception, and it’s our moral responsibility as humans to protect the most vulnerable among us. If elected to Congress, I will continue to be a voice for the voiceless as I have been in the State Senate. I’m honored to receive Tennessee Right to Life’s endorsement,” Dr. Green said.…

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