Embattled Mississippi Rep. Travis Childers will get a campaign assist Friday from a founding member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

Retiring Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) will join Childers, a fellow Blue Dog, in visiting four counties as the capstone to Childers’ “Putting North Mississippi First” tour.

According to a statement from Childers’ campaign, Tanner will “help get out the vote and talk directly to North Mississippians about the issues that matter to them, including how Childers is working hard to oppose wasteful spending and restore fiscal responsibility.”

Childers, who won his seat in a 2008 special election, faces a general election challenge from Republican state Sen. Alan Nunnelee.