TN-SEN: Return of the Bredi

[Blair]

It seems Corker left because he was sick of having to comment on Trump's activities/comments every day, and probably sick of being in the Senate; I don't see why Haslam would want to jump into that.

[Blair]

From a democratic standpoint could be win win- if Corker wins the worst case will be having a anti-Trump senator, and if Blackburn wins there's a shot at winning the seat.

[Blair]

Bredesen up with a very strong ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmXlTDa_TCw

Is it though? Who does this excite?

It's very average.

Ideally he'd say I don't like it when President Trump does/says X, but like President Trump I'm sick of X/Y/Z. I'll stand up to President Trump when he's wrong but I'll support him if he's doing X which helps Tennessee.

[Blair]

I do expect Bredesen to get the same sort of treatment as Bayh (aka millions of dollars of attack ads) because the obvious route is to make him toxic to republican/independent groups.

The thing people keep forgetting about Strickland's 2016 campaign is that Rob Portman ran a superb campaign. Not only did he raise an absolute ton, have an amazing field game but he created himself as just an average suburban guy who happens to be a republican. (Despite being rather conservative) There's a reason why Portman outrun Trump.

If Bill Haslam, or even Bob Corker was running for this Seat we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

[Blair]

It’s a very generic ad; you don’t generally beat top tier recruits with a long history if you’re just producing cookie cutter ads like that.

[Blair]

I think it's because people don't know how to cover it? There hasn't been a competitive election there since 2006, and it doesn't have any demographic quirks that allow endless pieces about how it's trending, or what it means for US politics at large.

Bredesen's strategy is based around being as inoffensive as possible, and piggy backing on his record as Governor, whilst Blackburn appears to be largely silent.

[Blair]

You think this is a game son

Bredesen loses support of major Super Democratic PAC - Priorities USA - due to announcing he'd support Kavanaugh. Threatens Manchin with same.

Are Democratic groups finally growing a pair? Good to see.

You seem to adhere to the view that every Democratic candidate should be an ideological purist, strictly abiding by the national platform. That won't work in a state such as this one. Candidates should have views that are within the range of those in the state or district in which they are campaigning.

You seem to adhere to being deliberately dense.

There's a difference between having ideological variation, and actively allowing people to support clearly unfit Judges like Kavanaugh. How anyone can be a Democrat, and put someone on the court who will A.) Who block Mueller B.) Gut Obamacare C.) Uphold Citizens United 

Even a broad church needs walls.

[Blair]

Anyone who dated Harry Styles certainly has my political approval

[Blair]

Lol anyone who says ‘Lady Democrat’, and still thinks Roy Moore was framed (a man so odious even Mitch McConell cut him off) is clearly not going to post anything of very high value

[Blair]

Bredesen needs to cut some good ads on pre-existing conditions... especially if he can find any footage of Blackburn wavering on or not requiring pre-existing condition protection.  This seem to be the one issue that for some ... takes favor over MAGA.  If the race tightens again- and he can peel off 2% via healthcare policy (this would dissolve a 4pt margin in the polls).

Also- this is a prime race where negative ads could be effective.  Bredesen is a known and well like name in TN... Many are less familiar with Blackburn- which means there is an opening to define her in a way that makes some voters weary of her. (and there is a lot to work with with Blackburn- just dig up some of her crazier moments/ comments).  Plenty of Moderate Republicans have always seen Blackburn as too far out there in Hack-land... Bredesen needs to illustrate this to those less familiar with her.

A popular 2 term Governor (who has led in polls much of the this race) running against Marsha Blackburn... I find it hard to believe that even in TN, Blackburn is not beatable (It just requires Bredesen campaign to turn it up a notch and run a savvy campaign the remaining 3 weeks). Show some energy, make enough people doubt Blackburn, and highlight 1 or 2 issues that Dems still hold the popular ground on (like pre-existing conditions).

It's way too late in the cycle for this- and in all fairness the last paragraph pretty much sums up what Bredesen had done

[Blair]

Honestly, there's an upside to Bredesen losing big as it seems he will. It's a great lesson for """MODERATE""" democrats who think they can win by acting like Republicans, that they're gonna pay a price for it. The base will only stick with you up to a point.

They would surely not have won with a Bernie Sanders like candidate either in Tennessee.

People aren’t generally calling for a Bernie Sanders type candiate.

It always annoys me when people call out moderates such as Bredesen as being useless politicians, only to be told ‘oh so you want Sanders people running then’.

It’s not Bredesen ideology that annoys me- it’s his lack of political courage, and his complete lack of authenticity

[Blair]

Honestly, there's an upside to Bredesen losing big as it seems he will. It's a great lesson for """MODERATE""" democrats who think they can win by acting like Republicans, that they're gonna pay a price for it. The base will only stick with you up to a point.

They would surely not have won with a Bernie Sanders like candidate either in Tennessee.

People aren’t generally calling for a Bernie Sanders type candiate.

It always annoys me when people call out moderates such as Bredesen as being useless politicians, only to be told ‘oh so you want Sanders people running then’.

It’s not Bredesen ideology that annoys me- it’s his lack of political courage, and his complete lack of authenticity

Yeah, there’s a reason everyone hated Evan Bayh, but you never really hear the base complaining about Joe Donnelly.

The Democrats are in the minority these days, and badly so, because they've lost sight of the fact that, in many instances, half a Democrat is better than no Democrat at all.

That's not what my argument was at all- I'd still vote for Bredesen, and god knows if I was a US citizen and wealthy enough I'd be contributing to the DSCC and Bredesen- I'm just saying that the Democratic Party needs to recruit more politicians who actually have balls.

We picked Bredesen- who is the exact type of person who republicans say the Democrats need, and look at how well he's performing? I'm sick of the Democrats nominating crap politicians are so afraid of there own shadow that they sell out before they even lose the election.

Virtually all the half-democrats have lost re-election...

Landrieu
Bayh
Lincoln
Pryor

I'm sure the list goes on