As debates are about to begin, Tennessee’s tight U.S. Senate race is a tale of two campaigns trying to break what most polls have as a statistical tie.  

The campaigns of Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Phil Bredesen are both heavily invested in political commercials on a variety of platforms from broadcast to social media, but there are differences in how they are trying to attract voters. 

Marsha Blackburn has had a series of campaign visits right from the top of the Republican Party and she’ll have another one Monday in Johnson City. 

President Trump plans to be there for both a fundraiser and an evening rally with Blackburn.  

Phil Bredesen has not followed a path of bringing in national Democratic Party figures to help his campaign. 

Instead, one of the things focused on by the campaign is counter-punching anticipated events or endorsements with pointed political commercials.  

One recent ad highlighted how the Blackburn campaign did not agree to a debate in Memphis. 

Wearing a hat with the 901-area code of Memphis, Bredesen responded in an ad that said in part “Congresswoman Blackburn accepted the invitations from Nashville and Knoxville but said ‘no’ to Memphis.” 

In another ad, the Blackburn campaign showed Republicans who said they voted for Bredesen in either 2002 or 2006 for governor “but I cannot support him for Senate.”  

The Bredesen camp came back with various individuals, including Tom Cigarran of the Nashville Predators ownership group, who said they are Republicans, but supporting Bredesen. 

There have been other immediate political ad responses to Blackburn commercials from the Bredesen camp concerning health care issues and even one immediately following the NRA’s endorsement of Blackburn last week. 

The ads come as both candidates prepare for their first debate that’s scheduled for Tuesday evening in Middle Tennessee.  

A debate from Knoxville between the two Senate candidates will be seen on News 2 at 7 p.m. on  Oct. 10.