By Natasha Korecki (Politico) –
Donald Trump stumped in East Tennessee on Monday night to headline a rally and fundraise for Rep. Marsha Blackburn. But his mission was broader: preventing the massive upset brewing in the state’s open Senate race.
Just two years ago, Trump trounced Hillary Clinton in Tennessee, winning by 26 points. Today, Republicans are working to stave off what would be a disastrous defeat in the battle for the Senate seat left vacant by GOP Sen. Bob Corker’s retirement — a loss that could threaten the GOP’s razor-thin majority. They’re counting on the president to help drag Blackburn over the finish line.
Trump did his best to do that at the raucous rally, where attendees cheered the president and chanted, “Marsha! Marsha!”
“She’s got Tennessee values,” Trump roared. “A vote for Marsha is really a vote for me and everything that we stand for. It’s a vote for ‘Make America Great Again.’”