Why Johnson President Donald Trump's visit to Johnson City is important

The Senate has a vote of confirmation for Supreme Court and possibly Democrat candidates for dismissal hearings of President Trump if the Russian Special Council inquiry is to succeed.

Currently, Republicans have a 51-49 lead in the Senate with the decisive vote of Vice President Mike Pence. It is generally believed that the current majority of Republicans in the House is also threatened.

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President Donald Trump urges voters to vote for Republicans next November to preserve America 's safety at a rally at the municipal auditorium Tuesday.
Ayrika L Whitney, The Tennessean

Thus, Republicans can hardly let Tennessee leave, and Trump and his company want the largest number of Republicans to vote in general elections.

"I think the important thing is that we have strong voter turnout, and if you take such an event for granted, it would be a mistake," said Mike Ragsdale, former Republican strategist turned mayor of Knox County.

In this perspective, said Ragsdale, the importance of Trump's visit is not the amount raised for Blackburn, nor even to convince voters undecided.

"It's about participation," he said.

Red East of Tennessee, but produces moderates

The counties that make up Johnson City, Washington, Carter and Sullivan voted for Trump by a margin of 43, 64 and 55 points respectively. Eighty percent of the votes cast in Carter County were for Trump.

More: President Donald Trump meets in Johnson City to bring about closure of schools and more law enforcement

But East Tennessee has always been more complicated than that. This part of the state is redder than the others since before the American Civil War, but its rulers, particularly its group of leaders nationwide, have been moderate.

Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen and Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn address the 2018 US Senate Debate in Tennessee at Cumberland University on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo: Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean)

Detectives Howard Baker Jr., Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker are all from eastern Tennessee, as well as outgoing Governor Bill Haslam.

It is not unreasonable to think that this side of the state might need President Trump to remind the reader how he should vote in November.

Democratic governor Bredesen was considered by many to be a moderate. He is leading his campaign in the Senate in this order of ideas, even though Blackburn, Trump and the GOP interpose, saying it is clear that Bredesen will vote with the Democrats no matter what. he says during the election campaign.

"Marsha must appeal to the moderates from here," Susan Richardson Williams, a politician in Knoxville, said Friday.

"There are Republicans from eastern Tennessee who support Bredesen and it is important to make them understand that a vote for Bredesen could elect Chuck Schumer to the position of leader (by majority in the Senate), Elizabeth Warren, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Diane Feinstein (as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Trump can convey this message. "

Eastern Tennessee does not have many presidential visits

Not to be outdone, the president's team announced last week that it would come too, but not in Knoxville. Instead, he chose Johnson City, about 100 miles northeast.

Johnson City has not had a president in office since Gerald Ford's visit in 1976. Previously, it was Richard Nixon in 1970.

"This is a rare and special opportunity for a president-in-office to visit our community," said Pete Peterson, director of Johnson City, in a statement sent via email. "We are preparing for the 150th anniversary of our 150th anniversary. It is therefore a historic and significant event that has brought us to our 150th anniversary. "

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The debate in the US Senate between Marsha Blackburn and Phil Bredesen in 3 minutes
Nashville Tennessean

Democrats will also gather in East Tennessee

Bredesen and Blackburn were originally scheduled to debate Monday in Chattanooga, but the Blackburns declined the invitation earlier this month.

Bredesen is still coming and will be hosting a Choose Chattanooga Ideas Forum at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center at 6pm.

He will answer questions from the public and social media on which #ChooseChattanooga is associated. The Facebook page of the campaign will broadcast the forum live.

Former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen spoke at Rhodes College in Memphis on September 13th. Rhodes College was scheduled to hold a debate in the Senate, but GOP candidate Marsha Blackburn's campaign was unable to agree on a date. Bredesen organized a campaign event instead of debate. (Photo: Joe Rondone)

Former state senator and former president of the Tennessee Democratic Party, Roy Herron, said Blackburn "snubbed" the Chattanoogans.

"Congressman Blackburn is snubbing the people of Chattanooga who invited him to debate Governor Bredesen (Monday)," he said. "Instead, she chooses to frequent large cat heads from all over the country to attend the event with the president."

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