Senate candidate Phil Bredesen hosts forum in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) –  In a full room at the Bessie Smith Hall, Phil Bredesen took questions from the audience and social media.

He answered questions from topics on the Affordable Care Act, the opioid epidemic, the VA Health System, to the U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

“I am still holding, I guess, holding in reserve my opinion on Mister Kavanaugh. We have that FBI background check going on,” Bredesen said.

The initial hope was that the former Tennessee Governor and his opponent Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn would debate in Chattanooga.

Congressman Blackburn was not at the event.

“The cheap ticket is the $10,000 dollars, the real tickets is $25,000 up there. I have never had a fundraiser remotely approaching those for a ticket, for ticket prices,” Bredesen said.

While Bredesen was in Chattanooga, Congressman Blackburn was in Johnson City with President Donald Trump.

“I know, I know that the Democrats keep saying there’s a blue wave coming, but let me tell you something, mister President when that blue wave gets to the state line, it is going to run smack dab in to the great red wall,” Blackburn said.

The president came Tennessee to show his support for Blackburn in a “Make America Great Again” rally at Freedom Hall Civic Center.

“This election is a choice between a Republican Party that is building our future and a Democrat Party that is trying to burn our future down,” President Trump said.

The election is in November.