NASHVILLE – Democrat Phil Bredesen is making his final arguments in new TV and digital ads to Tennessee voters in his Nov. 6 contest with Republican Marsha Blackburn.
“You’ve been hearing me say it,” the former two-term governor and Nashville mayor says in the 30-second spot now airing. “I’m applying for the job to be your Senator. It’s your decision now. If you like Washington the way it is – partisan shouting, finger-pointing, special interests – I’m not your guy.
“But,” Bredesen adds, “if you want results, some fresh air, some fresh ideas, I ask you to hire me. I love fixing things. I’ve got a track record of independence, of working across party lines, of getting things done, and I’m ready to get to work.”
That and a 60-second digital ad came as Tennessee early voting ended Thursday night in the contest between U.S. Rep. Blackburn and Bredesen to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker of Chattanooga.
Latest polling shows Bredesen behind with Blackburn’s support hovering at 49 percent to 52 percent, depending on the survey.
In the digital ad, Bredesen goes into his successes while mayor, including bringing the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators to Nashville, as well as handling TennCare and other problems as governor.
He also takes a harder line with Blackburn, calling the contest a “clear choice,” arguing “Congresswoman Blackburn has been steeped in that Washington way for 16 years and is good at it. That’s not my world. I love fixing things. I want to fix health care, drug prices, the deficit; I want to work with the president but also be a check and balance on him. I want to bring some fresh air and fresh ideas up to the swamp.”
Blackburn, a staunch conservative, has hewed closely to President Donald Trump during the course of the campaign. The president is scheduled to be in Chattanooga on Sunday to hold a rally for her.