UPDATE at 5:41 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018: The White House confirmed Monday that President Donald Trump will be stopping in Chattanooga Sunday after an appearance in Macon, Georgia.
___
NASHVILLE - President Donald Trump is scheduled to come to Chattanooga for a rally this Sunday to help Republican Marsha Blackburn in her Nov. 6 battle with Democrat Phil Bredesen to become Tennessee's next U.S. senator, news website Axios reported.
On the same day, Nov. 4, the president will also be in Macon, Georgia, where Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams are locked in a tight race to become Georgia's next governor.
Trump's visits are part of a multi-state tour by the president in the final days of the midterm elections where he hopes to be the difference maker in close contests.
Abbi Sigler, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Blackburn did not respond Sunday to requests for comment about the Chattanooga trip. Nor did Ward Baker, a top Blackburn strategist.
But a potential Trump visit to Chattanooga in the national midterm election has been rumored for days.
Last week, the White House told Washington-based reporters that Tennessee was on the list of states the president planned to visit in high-stakes midterm election where Republicans and Democrats are vying for control of the chamber where the GOP now has 51 members compared to 49 Democrats.
The race between Blackburn and former governor Bredesen has been rated a tossup by some, including the Cook Political Report.
Bredesen spokeswoman Alyssa Hansen called the president's visit "a perfect opportunity for him to sit down with Gov. Bredesen for a few minutes to discuss their shared interest in lowering prescription drugs prices."
She said that since Bredesen and Trump are both "skilled businesspeople, they can work together to get the best deal for Americans. Gov. Bredesen's plan to tackle prescription drug prices illustrates what he's said from day 1- he will work with President Trump to get things done for Tennesseans because that's what senators ought to do."
Earlier Sunday, Blackburn and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., held a rally with dozens of supporters at a Nashville venue owned by country music artist Ray Stevens.
Seven protesters seeking to disrupt the event were hauled off by security personnel with at least one by police. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was arrested.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.