Trump and Pence Rally in Chattanooga for Marsha Blackburn

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence spoke to an estimated crowd of 12,000 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Nov. 4, urging a vote for Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who’s leaving the House and running for the Senate seat previously held by Republican Bob Corker.

Warming the crowd up, Pence called Blackburn “a woman of faith and conviction” who has stood by Trump on increasing the military budget, cuts to taxes and regulations, and “will always stand for the right to life.”

Vice President Mike Pence at a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Nov. 4, 2018. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

Trump followed with a case for his administration, promising to take his agenda to the next level.

While extolling the “economic boom like we’ve never had before going strong,” Trump has started to paint a picture of an economy greater still.

“I’ll tell you what, honestly, we haven’t even begun. We have such potential. We have such potential,” he said. “As crazy as it sounds, we have such potential.”

He then made a vote for Blackburn a decision between the economic boom and his administration’s focus on security, and the Democrats’ stated goal of reversing his policies.

“Your next senator, Marsha Blackburn, will keep your economy thriving, your wages rising, your jobs soaring, and she will keep your families and communities safe,” he said.

President Donald Trump and GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn at a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Nov. 4, 2018. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

Blackburn came on stage with a word of praise for Trump and Pence and then turned to her opponent, former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.

“I think Tennesseans want a U.S. Senator who is going to do exactly what she says she is going to do,” Blackburn said, an apparent jab at the perceived two-facedness of Bredesen.

GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn at a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Nov. 4, 2018. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

In a state that Trump won by 26 points, Bredesen is presenting himself as a moderate. He even said he would have voted to confirm Trump’s Supreme Court pick Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was pushed through the Senate with the support of only a single Democrat vote—and a politically convenient vote at that.

Some of Bredesen’s campaign staffers, however, were caught on camera saying he was lying about the Kavanaugh vote in hopes of capturing moderate voters. One staffer said Bredesen can’t openly say he’s running against Trump, but his staffers are clear that he does. “He’ll be a good Democrat,” the staffer said, according to a video released by Project Veritas Action.

“Marsha is running against a far-left liberal and you’re finding that out, finally,” Trump said, calling Bredesen “the handpicked candidate of [Senate Democrat leader] Chuck Schumer.”

President Donald Trump at a Make America Great Again rally in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Nov. 4, 2018. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

Blackburn further held against Bredesen his support of the presidential run of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He gave over $33,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund PAC, according to the Nashville Post.

“If my opponent, Phil Bredesen, had his way, Hillary Clinton … would be president and not any of these things would be happening,” she said, referring to Trump’s accomplishments.

At that point, her speech was cut off by the crowd chanting “lock her up”—a common response to the mention of Clinton at Trump rallies. Trump supporters commonly consider Clinton generally corrupt and criminally culpable for mishandling classified information when using a private email server during her tenure.

“If you want to vote ‘no’ on Hillary Clinton and her cronies one more time, stand with me,” Blackburn concluded.

Latest polls show Blackburn either tied or slightly ahead of Bredesen.