Polls in Central Florida open this morning with the U.S. Senate race involving former presidential-primary candidate Marco Rubio garnering heavy interest on the ballot.
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Who Emerges in Toss-up Races?
On the Democratic side, Reps. Murphy, a two-term congressman who is only 33, has the support of the entire Democratic establishment, including President Obama and Vice President Biden, but has faced questions about embellishing his background.
In the 19th District seat left open by Clawson, Francis Rooney, former USA ambassador to the Vatican and a major GOP fundraiser, appears to have the upper hand over Chauncey Goss, son of former congressman and Central Intelligence Agency director Porter Goss; and Dan Bongino, an ex-Secret Service agent who twice failed in Maryland congressional bids.
But McCain and Rubio may have to reconsider their strategies later this fall, in the event that Trump’s campaign begins to crumble in Arizona and Florida. But he’s not the only one who GOP operatives view as a strong candidate.
Add Charles Fried, Ronald Reagan’s solicitor general, to the list of Republicans supporting Clinton’s candidacy. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, whose job is to increase Democratic seats in the House, is backing Taddeo.
Republicans now outnumber Democrats 17-10 in the state’s congressional delegation.
National Republicans had preferred Ken Bennett, the former secretary of state, or Gary Kiehne, who ran for the seat against Kirkpatrick in 2014. Both candidates have had issues during the race.
“Whoever comes out will be bloody and broke”, said Matt Thornton, the communications director for the DCCC, of the Florida and Arizona contests. The victor will challenge incumbent Republican Carlos Curbelo in a seat at the top of national Democrats’ target lists. John McCain and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to sign Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Lynn Haven, Fla.
It’s a similar message Grayson has made about Murphy, that there is no substance behind the candidate.
The five-term senator also received a scare earlier this month, when GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump publicly withheld his endorsement of McCain. Marco Rubio to try to keep his seat. And McCain? The self-proclaimed maverick earned the ire of groups like the Senate Conservatives Fund and the conservative Club for Growth for waffling on immigration and his votes on guns.
During their re-election efforts, both McCain and Rubio have offered support for Trump as the party’s White House nominee. Beruff, meanwhile, spent big and has managed to hold his friend, Gov. Rick Scott (R), back from endorsing Rubio.
The latest polls show Rubio with a 5 point lead over murphy. Kelli Ward is their messenger.
McCain has led all polls released publicly, and will likely face Kirkpatrick in November. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary. Sanders endorsed Tim Canova, a law professor who is challenging Wasserman Schultz in the district, which includes numerous areas outside of Miami. Also in contention are several House districts in a livelier-than-usual campaign following a Florida redistricting seen as tipping the weight away from incumbents.
But the two front-runners are driving hard toward the finish line. The Democratic side of the ticket sees US representatives Alan Grayson of Orlando and Patrick Murphy of Jupiter facing off.
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Also of note are two fights to fill US congressional seats in districts 6, 9 and 10, which have drawn 18 candidates in all. Curt Clawson. The party’s leaders have mostly solidified behind Francis Rooney, a former ambassador.
