Blackburn launches new TV ad of Trump bashing Bredesen as tone of Senate race shifts

Joey Garrison | USA TODAY Network - Tennessee

Show Caption Hide Caption Will Phil Bredesen or Marsha Blackburn succeed Bob Corker in the Senate? Phil Bredesen and Marsha Blackburn are the leading candidates to replace Bob Corker in the U.S. Senate

President Donald Trump does the talking in U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn's latest television ad in Tennessee's U.S. Senate race — and it's all about her Democratic opponent Phil Bredesen.

The 30-second spot, released on Friday, isn't the first time the conservative Williamson County congresswoman has featured Trump's endorsement in a campaign ad.

But unlike a previous ad where Trump touts Blackburn, her campaign has now turned to footage of Trump bashing Bredesen during a Nashville rally he held for Blackburn in May.

"Phil, whatever the hell his name is, this guy will 100 percent vote against us every single time," Trump says at the end of the ad.

It marks a shift to a more combative tone from the candidates in advertising for the high-profile Senate race — with both campaigns now more freely trading barbs — less than 70 days before the Nov. 6 election.

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On Thursday, Americans for Prosperity, an outside group led by the conservative Koch brothers network, launched a $2 million television ad blitz attacking Bredesen. The former Tennessee governor fired back with an ad where Bredesen slams the Koch spot as dishonest and calls out Blackburn by name, saying it reflects her 16 years in Washington.

In the latest Blackburn ad, Trump is shown speaking from Municipal Auditorium in Nashville with intense music added in the background. It pans back and forth from Trump to fired up supporters booing each time Bredesen is mentioned.

The ad begins with one of Blackburn's overarching themes in the race — that a vote for Bredesen would help the agenda of Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on New York.

"Phil Bredesen was recruited by Schumer to run for the Senate," Trump says. "Bredesen donated a lot of money to Hillary Clinton. Crooked Hillary. Phil Bredesen supported her, and he supported her ideas."

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Bredesen camp: Blackburn following 'losing D.C. Diane playbook'

Bredesen, known as a moderate Democrat during his two terms as governor, has sought to downplay national implications of the Senate race and distance himself from the national Democratic Party as he pushes a "Tennessee first" agenda.

In response to the new Trump-focused ad, Bredesen press secretary Alyssa Hansen accused the Blackburn campaign of following the "losing D.C. Diane playbook," a reference to U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tennessee, and her recent failed bid for Tennessee governor in August.

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Hansen said, "Congressman Blackburn's negative, Washington-style campaign has been on full display this week."

"Instead of focusing on talking about the issues that matter to Tennesseans, the Blackburn campaign is more concerned with spreading lies and coordinating with dark money groups," Hansen said, adding that Bredesen "will continue to focus on offering ideas about how to work together to get things done for Tennessee."

The Blackburn campaign declined to say how much they are paying to air the ad, but said it will run in media markets across the state and on digital platforms statewide.

“President Trump knows Tennesseans need a Senator who will represent them first," Blackburn campaign manager Kevin Golden said in a statement. "Phil Bredesen is Chuck Schumer’s number one recruit and donated over $33,400 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign. What we hear from Tennesseans is they fear Phil Bredesen will not represent their values in Washington.”

The Tennessee Democratic Party responded to the ad by singling out Trump's more than $324,000 contributions to Democrats over the years, including $10,900 to Clinton and $9,900 to Schumer.

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Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com and on Twitter @joeygarrison.