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Blackburn: Trump to stump for her this month in TN

GOP U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn likely faces Democrat Phil Bredesen, the former Tennessee governor, to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker.
Blackburn became involved in state legislative politics in the 1990s.

Knoxville — U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn anticipates President Trump will visit Middle Tennessee by the end of the month as a show of support for her U.S. Senate candidacy.

Blackburn, a longtime Williamson County Republican, told 10News on Friday that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have both offered to help in her run against Democrat Phil Bredesen, the former two-term Tennessee governor.

"People look forward to having them come into the state," said Blackburn, a staunch Trump supporter.

The Associated Press reported Friday the Trump visit is set for May 29.

Recent polls have shown Bredesen with a narrow lead over Blackburn.

Trump remains popular in Tennessee even as his national approval ratings remain at or near 40 percent.

Sen. Bob Corker, a Chattanooga Republican, is retiring as a Tennessee senator. Republicans are keen to hold onto the seat, and Democrats see it as an opportunity to challenge the GOP's narrow hold in the Senate.

Corker earlier this year sounded tepid about endorsing Blackburn and openly expressed his friendship with Bredesen. In recent weeks, however, he's been more obvious about showing support for Blackburn.

She said she's supported him in the past and he's supported her. She noted he's said he plans to vote for her.

"Sen. Corker and I are fine," Blackburn said.

The former state legislator said she's also pleased to have settled past differences with former GOP Gov. Don Sundquist and received Sundquist's endorsement.

Sundquist, who retired to Townsend with wife Martha after leaving Nashville, told Politico in February he wouldn't vote for her. But in a statement released last month, the former West Tennessee congressman changed his stance.

“It is time for Tennesseans to rally behind Marsha Blackburn and send her to the United States Senate. While Marsha and I have not always agreed on a couple of issues, we have always agreed on the most critical issues,” Sundquist said. “I trust her, and I know she will work with President Trump to pass his agenda.”

A former member of the Sundquist administration, Blackburn acknowledged as well Friday some past significant differences with her old boss. The two clashed over his failed bid at tax reform that included imposition of a state income tax.

Related: Bredesen has narrow lead over Blackburn

Blackburn said she and Sundquist have talked. She said they've been friends for a long time.

"I think there is a tremendous amount of value to not burning bridges and to working to mend relationships and to understanding differences," she said. "And that is something that Gov. Sundquist and I have been able to sit down and discuss. I am so honored to have his endorsement."

She hopes he'll be able to appear at campaign events with her.

Immigration, the economy

As she goes about the state campaigning ahead of the Nov. 6 general election (she appears certain to win the party's nomination in the Aug. 2 primary), Blackburn said topics that concern voters the most include the economy, filling federal court vacancies and immigration. They're happy about the benefits coming as a result of the new federal tax bill, she said.

"We hear a good bit about making certain that sanctuary city policies are ended, a border wall is built, stopping this terrible human trafficking, drug trafficking, sex trafficking," she said.

Sanctuary cities are defined as municipalities that limit their cooperation with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws.

The state Legislature, of which Blackburn is a former member, this year passed a bill that would ban sanctuary cities in Tennessee and require local governments to support federal immigration enforcement efforts. Tennesseans she's hearing from support building a wall along the Mexican border to stop illegal immigration, she said.

The state sanctuary cities bill is heading to Gov. Bill Haslam's desk. Immigrant rights supporters are asking him to veto it. Haslam hasn't said what he'll do.

Blackburn said she's heard about the legislation.

"I would think that having such broad support in the state Legislature and support from our communities that this is something that would seem to take place. But I've not discussed it with the governor and quite frankly I've not seen the bill."

Last month, federal agents raided a Grainger County slaughterhouse where authorities say the owners employed dozens of undocumented workers. Some 100 workers were rounded up, some with families in Grainger and Hamblen counties. Ten were charged with violating federal immigration laws including illegal re-entry into the United States.

Immigration advocates say it was one of the largest such raids in more than 10 years in the nation. Blackburn said Friday she wasn't familiar with the raid.

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