With two new ads, outside groups begin spending in Tennessee's US Senate race

Joel Ebert | The Tennessean

Signifying the national interest in Tennessee's U.S. Senate race, two competing political action committees launched statewide TV ad buys Friday in support of their respective candidates.

The Democrat-aligned Majority Forward and the Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund have begun airing new TV ads in favor of former Gov. Phil Bredesen and U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, respectively.

Both national PACs told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee they spent $1.3 million to air their 30-second ads on Tennessee TV stations in August. Both ads are positive profiles of each candidate.

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In the Senate Leadership Fund ad — titled "Tenacity" — Blackburn is described as a go-getter who sold textbooks to pay for college.

The ad notes President Donald Trump's endorsement of Blackburn and features of clip of his comments during a campaign rally in Nashville in May.

"She loves your state. She loves your country. She's going to win," Trump says in the ad.

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The Senate Leadership Fund is financed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y.

In their ad, called "Saved," Majority Forward highlights Bredesen’s accomplishments while governor, including balancing the state budget without raising a sales tax and not implementing an income tax.

“Bredesen made Tennessee one of the best in America for new jobs,” a narrator says, citing his efforts to land auto plants for Volkswagen and Nissan.

The ad is funded by Majority Forward, the nonprofit wing of the Senate Majority PAC.

In the past, Republicans have highlighted the Senate Majority PAC as one run by close confidants of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The GOP has repeatedly tried to tie Schumer and Bredesen together. When Trump came to Nashville in May for a campaign rally for Blackburn, he said Bredesen would be a “tool” for Schumer.

Bredesen, who has previously said he anticipates serving in the minority, has said he would consider supporting someone other than Schumer for the leadership position.

Speaking to the Tennessee Farm Bureau on Thursday, Bredesen said the notion of him being a "lapdog" to anyone was "silly."

The ads from the national groups are the first by outside organizations in this year's Senate race.

Other outside groups expected to play a role in the race include the Committee to Defend the President, which has commissioned several polls related to the race. The group plans to spend upwards of $1 million in support of Blackburn.

Bredesen has previously said he anticipates as much as $30 million from outside groups could be spent during the race.

Last month, Ward Baker, the top strategist for Blackburn’s campaign, said super PACs and outside groups are “part of your campaign now. And if you don’t treat it that way, then you’re going to lose because that’s just another arm.”

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.