Sources close to the Palm Beach U.S. representative’s camp confirm to Florida Politics that Bob Buckhorn will announce his endorsement of Patrick Murphy in his bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat likely 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 morning.
The move comes amid speculation of a heated primary challenge to Murphy from the left, as the Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus has signaled their support for U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson over Murphy, who they say isn’t liberal enough for their tastes.
Grayson so far says that he has not decided whether he will pursue the seat or not. 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 Democrats caucus.
