No endorsement from Trump in Tennessee governor's race

President Donald Trump endorsed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Burt Jones but has yet to make a similar endorsement in Tennessee.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn said on Aug. 6 she would run for the state's top office, following a June announcement from U.S. Rep. John Rose that he would also be a candidate in the Republican primary. Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited and cannot run again.

Trump said Thursday on The Todd Starnes Show that Blackburn and Rose were good friends of his.

"I'll probably be forced to do it," Trump said on the show. "I wish I didn't have to do it but I'll probably be forced to do it."

Endorsements are a key way candidates can help themselves in a primary, according to Dr. Zachary F. Peskowitz, a political science professor with Emory University, in an interview with The Center Square.

"But it's not the end of the campaign, it's not necessary to win," Peskowitz said.

A poll by the Beacon Center of Tennessee shows Blackburn with a significant lead over Rose, months before qualifying takes place.

Cito Pellegra has also announced he will run on the Republican ticket.

Democrats who have formally announced are Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green and Adam "Ditch" Kurtz.

Georgia's gubernatorial campaign has attracted a long list of Democratic candidates. Former Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, who also served two terms as DeKalb County CEO, was the latest to enter the race. He joined former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves, state Rep. Derrick Jackson, Olu Brown, Benjamin Turner and Ocean Zotique.

On the Republican side, Jones' biggest rival is Attorney General Chris Carr. Ben Anderson, Gregg Rodney Kirkpatrick, Billy Gene Minter II, Leland J. Olinger II, Walter Paschal Reeves II, and Kenneth Yasger are also listed on the Georgia Campaign Finance System as GOP candidates.

Carr made the first strike in the campaign, suing Jones in federal court for using money from a leadership committee. The case was heard this week in U.S.District Court but a decision has not been made.