Convicted Trump Sees Boost in Tennessee Support, Senator Blackburn Leads in Primary Despite Economic Concerns

In a recent poll conducted by the Beacon Center of Tennessee, former President Donald Trump has seen a surge in support in the state, despite his recent felony conviction in New York. Trump, convicted on 34 felony charges for falsifying documents related to payments to an adult film actress, received an uptick in support from 34% of Tennesseans, making them more likely to vote for him, according to a report by The Tennessean. Interestingly, this increase in support may have come at the expense of candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with a notable shift of voters moving to Trump's camp.

Despite the serious nature of his conviction, the rise in support points to a deep political division, with many Tennesseans maintaining the belief that the charges against Trump were politically motivated. The Beacon Center survey found that 57% of respondents in the state felt that way, while 41% still believe Trump was not guilty of the felonies he was convicted of. This polling occurred before an assassination attempt on Trump's life at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, and there is speculation that the event may have had an impact on voter sentiment, WSMV reported.

The same poll reveals that Senator Marsha Blackburn holds a commanding lead in the Tennessee Senate primary. She has a 20-point advantage over her closest Democratic challenger, State Rep. Gloria Johnson. Against another Democrat, Marquita Bradshaw, her lead extends to 21 points. Interestingly, "While Blackburn has opened up a substantial lead, it is notable that both Democratic candidates for Senate are outperforming President Biden by nearly 10 points," as per Beacon Center's analysis.

However, a clear consensus among Tennesseans emerges on one topic: inflation. The overwhelming majority of the state's residents—80%, consider inflation to be a big or very big problem for them, notably impacting their grocery bills. A striking 85% affirmed that the cost of groceries was the primary source of strain on their finances, signaling a prevailing economic discomfort, detailed by The Washington Examiner.

On a different note, the poll also assessed public opinion on the use of tax dollars for the construction of a new Major League Baseball stadium in Tennessee. A 58% majority opposed the idea, with even higher disapproval in Middle Tennessee, where a new stadium is most likely to be constructed. This shared stance denotes a clear reluctance to allocate state funds for such a venture, contrary to some speculations about Nashville attracting a new professional sports franchise.