“But I just couldn’t be at peace with the idea that we were going to not just potentially lose a Senate seat but lose the balance of power at this critical moment in our nation’s history”, said Rubio.
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In other races, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown lost a primary as she faces felony fraud charges.
And in the Orlando-area 9th District, a safely Democratic district, state Sen.
It was the first time Wasserman Schultz had faced a primary opponent in her heavily Democratic suburban Fort Lauderdale district.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the embattled former Democratic National Committee chairwoman, faces a primary challenge from Tim Canova, who was supported by Sen.
As of 11 a.m., Murphy had not responded to Rubio’s request. “Rubio, who just yesterday said, ‘No one can make a commitment to a six-year term”, Murphy said.
They both quickly tacked out of primary mode, looking toward November, wasting no time hammering each other during their respective victory speeches.
McCain had been campaigning hard in recent weeks and made one last stop Monday at a Phoenix fire station before meeting with campaign workers to urge them to make a final push to victory.
Murphy has criticized Rubio as caring more about his political ambitions then his constituents, while Republicans have criticized Murphy for embellishing his resume and lack of experience.
Rubio, a first-term senator and apparent front-runner in the race, is departing from a favorite’s usual playbook in clamoring for more debates with his lesser-known opponent. “Senator Rubio put his personal ambition ahead of Florida’s middle class, earning the worst vote attendance record for a Florida Senator in almost 50 years”. Citing her medical background, she questioned whether he would even live long enough to complete another six-year Senate term.
The 2008 GOP presidential nominee easily defeated former state Sen.
His approval ratings dropped from 54 percent before he announced his presidential campaign to 46 percent after he announced he’d seek a second Senate term, according to Quinnipiac University polling.
A similar night of consolidation for the Democratic mainstream means Rubio will face the Florida congressman Patrick Murphy, who comfortably beat off his party’s leftwing challenger Alan Grayson on Tuesday night. In a letter to Murphy, Rubio said Floridians deserved to hear from both candidates.
Here’s what our 10News WTSP Republican analyst says Marco Rubio has to do right now to win.
Trump offended McCain and many other Republicans previous year by suggesting the maverick senator and party’s 2008 presidential nominee was anything but a war hero because he was captured during the Vietnam War after his airplane was shot down during a bombing mission.
And even Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., whom Rubio says he wants to prevent from becoming majority leader.
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“I voted for Marco only because I’ve been a longstanding supporter”, said Diane Martin-Johnson, 66. Several races will essentially be decided in the primary and Florida will eventually send at least seven new House members to Washington. That’s a doable feat considering Democrats are contesting in 10 GOP-held seats, while Republicans are challenging in one (Nevada). If Democrats sweep all four seats seen as competitive in November, that Republican advantage could be reduced to 14-13.
