NASHVILLE - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen released a new television ad Monday in which he seeks to reach out to Tennessee Republican and independent voters by explaining what his approach to President Donald Trump will be.
"Look, I'm not running against Donald Trump. I'm running for a Senate seat to represent the people of Tennessee," Bredesen says in the 30-second spot. "I learned a long time ago to separate the message from the messenger."
The former two-term Tennessee governor says that "there's a lot of things I don't personally like about Donald Trump, but he's the president of the United States and if he has an idea, and is pushing some things that I think are good for the people of Tennessee, I'm going be for it. It doesn't matter where it came from.
"And likewise," Bredesen adds, "if I think it's not going to be good for Tennessee, I'm going to be against it. I think that's what senators ought to do."
The ad begins with a black-and-white photo of Bredesen being sworn into office as governor. It ends with a fade to black with the phrase "Back to Basics."
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is seeking the GOP's Senate nomination in the Aug. 2 state primary. The Brentwood congressman has closely aligned herself with Trump.
It's Bredesen's second broadcast this month. According to filings with the Federal Communications Commission, the Bredesen campaign since March 2 has reserved some $40,000 in ad time on broadcast television in the Chattanooga market this month.