Democrats' slim hopes of winning a US Senate majority may hinge on former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen, who holds a narrow lead in recent polling but faces tough odds in a state Donald Trump won by 26 points in 2016.
In the first debate of the campaign, Bredesen tried to avoid divisive national issues, declining to take a position on Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination and refusing to support Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader. Meanwhile, Republican Marsha Blackburn tied him to Schumer, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, while endorsing Trump's policies including the border wall and ending the diversity visa lottery.
Bredesen, a moderate, focuses on his bipartisan record and has run ads featuring Republican supporters. However, Blackburn's ads remind voters that Bredesen donated to Hillary Clinton. The race has drawn national attention, with NRA official Chris Cox attending the debate and Trump scheduled to campaign in the state.
Despite Bredesen's popularity as a former two-term governor who won every county in 2006, winning statewide as a Democrat in Tennessee remains a steep challenge. The party has not elected a senator there in 25 years.
