President Donald Trump to headline Marsha Blackburn fundraiser in Nashville

Jordan Buie | The Tennessean

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

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — President Donald Trump is scheduled to headline a fundraiser for Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn in Nashville on May 29, according to an invitation sent out Friday from the Blackburn Victory Fund.

The fundraiser offers pricey tickets. A private roundtable with Trump for two costs $44,300 per couple, a private photo reception costs $10,800 per couple and a general reception with the president costs $2,700 per couple.

The announcement puts a date on an expected event since Trump has voiced support for Blackburn last month and pledged to campaign for her.

"We are honored to have the President's support and look forward to welcoming him to the campaign trail with us," Blackburn campaign spokesman Abbi Sigler said in a message to the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee on Friday.

In April, Trump tweeted that Blackburn is a "wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her. Great on the Military, Border Security and Crime. Loves and works hard for the people of Tennessee. She has my full endorsement and I will be there to campaign with her!”

Trump effect: In Tennessee, GOP candidates embrace Trump and his agenda

More: Democrats cheer Corker's praise of Senate candidate Phil Bredesen

The Senate race between Blackburn, a GOP congressman from Brentwood, and former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is expected to be a close race, according to a host of recent polls.

Republicans and Democrats alike at the national level have put a focus on Tennessee, with incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., not seeking a third term.

Trump’s backing could potentially help Blackburn solidify her support among Republicans. Trump won 92 of the state’s 95 counties over Democrat Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race and remains popular in the state, especially among GOP voters. A recent Middle Tennessee State University poll put his approval rating at 50 percent.

Blackburn, who was a Trump surrogate during the presidential campaign and served on his transition team after the election, has made her support of Trump a pivotal part of her Senate campaign.

She pledges on her campaign website to “work tirelessly to help President Trump pass his agenda” and reminds voters in campaign ads that she supports his position on issues such as tax reform, the economy, immigration and the border wall.

But even as a Democrat, Bredesen in a red state has not sought to distance himself from the president or to point toward what other Democrats view as the president's flaws.

In an interview with the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee late last year, Bredesen tried to distance himself from the Trump-focused politics of national Democrats.

"I’m not running against Donald Trump," he said at the time. "I’m running for getting some things done here in Tennessee."

In their quest to retake control of the U.S. Senate next year, Democrats in most states will be out to exploit the perceived unpopularity of Trump against their Republican opponents.

News circulated about the invitation Friday at the Humboldt Strawberry Festival in West Tennessee, a perennial stop for ongoing campaigns, which this year included all the top-tier gubernatorial candidates and Bredesen.

Blackburn's campaign reported that she was at an event in Sevier County.

The Blackburn Victory Fund is a joint fundraising committee composed of Marsha for Senate, MARSHA PAC and the National Republican Senate Committee.

Reach Reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or by email at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.