PPP poll: Dem leads by 5 points in Tennessee Senate race

Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) holds a slight lead over his likely U.S. Senate race opponent, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R), according to a poll released Wednesday. 

The poll, conducted by the left-leaning Public Policy Polling, found 46 percent of respondents would vote for Bredesen, compared to 41 percent who said they’d vote for Blackburn. The two are vying to replace Sen. Bob Corker (R), who is not seeking reelection.

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The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, rates the election as a “toss-up.”

Wednesday’s poll surveyed roughly 1,000 Tennesseans and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

One poll conducted in mid-December by a pro-Trump super PAC found Blackburn leading Bredesen by 9 points, while another poll conducted for Senate Democrats’ campaign arm showed the former governor leading by 5 points.

Bredesen is currently the only Democrat in the race. Democrat James Mackler, an attorney and Iraq War veteran, dropped out following Bredesen’s entry.

Blackburn, meanwhile, is expected to face a competitive GOP primary. She outraised her main primary opponent, former Rep. Stephen Fincher, by more than $500,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to numbers released by both campaigns.

Tennessee has not elected a Democratic senator since 1990. President Trump won the state by 26 points in 2016.