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Marsha Blackburn Strikes Back at Taylor Swift

Senate candidate touts her push to end violence against women and unequal pay

Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn is running against popular former Gov. Phil Bredesen to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn is running against popular former Gov. Phil Bredesen to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for Senate in Tennessee, snapped back at music superstar Taylor Swift for criticizing her record on women’s and LGBT issues.

The congresswoman went on “Fox  & Friends First” Wednesday to outline the ways that she has worked for women after Swift said Blackburn’s “voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies” her.

Blackburn said she had a “good record” on certain women’s issues.

“Of course I support women and I want violence to end against women. I have been very active in abuse shelters and in child advocacy centers, I’ve been advocating for women and equal pay since I was 19 years old and making certain that women have the opportunity for maximum pay,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn is running against popular former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in a race that Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates Lean Republican.

Swift wrote on Instagram on Sunday that she would like to continue voting for women but “cannot support Marsha Blackburn.”

[Taylor Swift Plugs Midterm Elections Again at American Music Awards]

The musician said Blackburn voted against equal pay for women and against the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act and that she believes businesses have the right to refuse service to gay couples and gay couples should not be able to marry.

[Voter Registration Sees ‘Taylor Swift Bump’ After Star’s Instagram Post]

Soon after, nearly 71,000 people ages 18 to 24 registered to vote through Vote.org between Sunday and Tuesday, 45 percent of the roughly 159,000 voters who registered in that three-day period. A spike like that is unprecedented, a Vote.org spokesperson told Roll Call.

Swift continued her push on Tuesday night. While accepting the award for Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards, she encouraged people to “get out and vote.”

Griffin Connolly contributed to this report.

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