If recent history is any indication, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., may as well measure the governor’s mansion for drapes because she’s as good as elected.
A new Beacon Poll shows Blackburn holds a 21-point advantage — 55% to 34% — over Democrat Jerri Green among likely voters.
The lead by the state’s senior senator is greater than Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee had at approximately the same juncture when he first ran for the open seat in 2018 but less than what Republican Bill Haslam had when he sought the open seat in 2010.
Lee, then a Franklin businessman, on Sept. 8, 2018, had a 52%-34% lead over former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, with 14% undecided. Haslam, a former Knoxville mayor, on Sept. 7, 2010, had a 59%-31% lead over Mike McWherter, with 7% undecided.
Lee wound up winning by 21.1 percentage points and Haslam by 31.9 percentage points