Vice President Mike Pence will be returning to the Chattanooga area for the second time in a week when he joins President Donald Trump at a rally Sunday at UTC's McKenzie Arena.
Pence was in Dalton, Georgia on Thursday stumping for Brian Kemp, the Republican candidate for governor. Kemp will face Democrat Stacey Abrams in Tuesday's election.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann on Friday said it would be "unique" for the president and vice president to appear together here.
He told the Times Free Press that he and others including Senate hopeful Marsha Blackburn and Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden would attend Sunday's rally. He said members of the U.S. House delegation from Tennessee, Georgia and possibly Alabama also might attend.
The rally is part of a last-minute presidential push ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections to support Republican candidates across the nation, including Blackburn, who is running against Democrat Phil Bredesen to replace U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.
Trump likely will land at the Chattanooga airport on Air Force One at around 6 p.m., Fleischmann said.
The rally is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in McKenzie Arena on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus and should run about an hour long. Doors will open to the public at 2 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. to help security manage the expected large crowd. Fleischmann said he will be speaking right before Trump takes the stage, and Blackburn also is set to make remarks.
"I have been a constant advocate to try to get the president to see Chattanooga," Fleischmann said. "I've spoken with the president and White House officials about our great city, and the opportunity presented itself because of the Marsha Blackburn campaign."
Fleischmann said the Trump-Pence campaign made the decision to come to Chattanooga some time last week, and the visit was confirmed on Oct. 28.
The president's campaign paid $7,500 to rent the arena for the rally.
Secret Service personnel have been meeting with local law enforcement personnel including UTC police, Chattanooga police, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the FBI to finalize logistics for the event.
Trump isn't the only president to visit the Scenic City. Since the 1930s, six presidents have made appearances in Chattanooga, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon B. Johnson and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"I am so excited to have the president of the United States come to Chattanooga and see the greatest mid-sized city in America," Fleischmann said. "I could not be more proud of our city and our people, and just to be honored by the presence of the president of the United States is truly outstanding. This is something that I've wanted to accomplish for two years, and we're bringing it into fruition."
Those wanting tickets to Sunday's rally can register here.
Contact staff writer Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423- 757-6327 with tips or story ideas. Follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.