President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Middle Tennessee on Oct. 10 for a rally.
Ward Baker, who manages the gubernatorial campaign of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, told the USA TODAY Network – Tennessee that Trump plans to attend an event at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville.
The White House had not yet made a formal announcement as of the evening of Oct. 6.
Trump's visit to deep red Tennessee would come four days before early voting begins in midterm elections that polls forecast will be a harsh rebuke for Republicans.
It would be Trump's second trip to Tennessee in the last two weeks. He visited Neyland Stadium in Knoxville to watch the Tennessee-Texas game on Sept. 26. Later on Oct. 10, Trump plans to make his way to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the Georgia-Alabama
football game.
Trump's event would come as national Democrats are ramping up efforts to flip congressional seats in the state after the Republican-controlled legislature redrew district lines to give the GOP an advantage.
This month, Trump embarked on a monthlong, 17-state tour in mostly red states aimed at mobilizing Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections. So far, Trump has visited Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio, Nebraska and Texas.
Most of Clarksville is located in the 7th Congressional District, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps, whom Trump held multiple tele-town halls to support during a special election last December. Less than a year into his first term, Van Epps is defending his seat in a challenge from Nashville businessman Darden Copeland.
Two other competitive congressional races are unfolding in Middle Tennessee, and Trump has endorsed Republicans in both. Clarksville is just miles away from House District 5, where Republican Charlie Hatcher, a dairy farmer and former Tennessee Agriculture commissioner, is facing Democratic Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder in the closest House race in the state. Trump has also endorsed Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor in District 9, who is facing a formidable opponent in state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who was recently named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" program.
Trump may also stump for his close ally, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, whom he endorsed for Tennessee governor after she won the Republican primary.
Tennessee is historically a reliably Republican state, but the president’s approval rating here remains negative, with 46% of voters approving of his performance.
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump expected to hold Middle Tennessee rally Oct. 10. What to know
