Politics & Government
Watch Replay: President Donald Trump In Nashville
President Donald Trump held a rally at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium Tuesday in support of Marsha Blackburn's senate bid.
NASHVILLE, TN -- President Donald Trump's campaign held hold a rally at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium Tuesday, stumping for Senate hopeful U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn.
The rally, which included a performance by country music star and former contestant on "The Apprentice" Trace Adkins, came alongside a trip to Middle Tennessee where the president appeared at a high-dollar fundraiser for Blackburn, a frequent Trump surrogate.
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People began lining up for the free event late Monday night even though doors did not open until 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Tennessean reported a bit of tension among the supporters as they jockeyed for the coveted spots in the front of the queue.
The president's appearance - and fundraising efforts - coume as Tennessee has emerged as one of the top battlegrounds in the fight for the Senate, with popular and moderate former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen leading Blackburn, at least narrowly so, in a number of polls as the pair square off to succeed the retiring Bob Corker in November's election.
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Republican gubernatorial hopefuls have begun touting their Trump bona fides, as well. U.S. Rep. Diane Black frequently cites her support for Trump's headline policy proposals, particularly the border wall between the United States and Mexico, and her campaign notes how she was praised by Trump for her efforts as the House Budge Committee chairman to shepherd his budget.
The campaign of former economic development commissioner Randy Boyd, broadly considered part of the establishment wing of the Tennessee GOP and with significant ties to Gov. Bill Haslam, who did not vote for Trump, sent a photo welcoming the president to Tennessee. The photo, however, featured the Florida state flag flanking Boyd and the president.
Watch a replay of President Donald Trump's Nashville rally here:
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
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