Phil Ammann
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy received a major Democratic establishment endorsement Monday when the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced its support for his 2016 Senate bid.
The Jupiter Democrat is “one of our party’s most promising rising stars” and “the strongest candidate to win the Florida Senate race,” DSCC Chairman Sen. Jon Tester of Montana said.
The endorsement comes as Rep. Alan Grayson, the outspoken Democrat from Orlando, stated he would “probably” enter the race. Grayson – a liberal favorite – has a record could appeal to progressives in the primary, but he may find it difficult to get traction with moderates.
So far, Murphy is the only announced Democrat in the race, and is the clear leader with the state and national Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, the list grows of prominent Republicans who have taken a pass on running for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s seat in 2016. Of those remaining names, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, the Ponte Vedra Pedra Beach Republican, seems to be the most likely Republican to mount a challenge.
An official DSCC endorsement is not surprising, as both Tester and Harry Reid, the Senate Minority Leader, gave PAC money to support Murphy campaign.
