Ryan Ray
Sources close to Palm Beach U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy‘s camp confirm to Florida Politics that Bob Buckhorn will endorse Murphy’s bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat, which likely will be left vacant as Marco Rubio moves toward a run for president.
Buckhorn and Murphy will address the press and public at downtown Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The move comes amid speculation of a heated primary challenge to Murphy from the left. The Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus has signaled its support for U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson over Murphy, who they say isn’t liberal enough for their tastes.
Grayson has so far said he’s undecided whether he will pursue the seat. Either way, Murphy would likely be a decided frontrunner in a statewide primary.
Buckhorn was once aligned with the erstwhile Clintonite Democratic Leadership Council, a major force of moderation within national Democratic politics that gave rise to its successor organization, the New Democrat Coalition.
