Within hours of U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy announcing a bid for the U.S. Senate, the National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a new website “welcoming” the Jupiter Democrat to the race.
“After barely serving one term in the House of Representatives … Murphy is already asking Floridians for a promotion,” says a NRSC statement. “Fittingly, Murphy has decided to launch his campaign on the anniversary of ObamaCare in an effort to highlight his support for its $716 billion in cuts to Medicare.”
To welcome Murphy to the Senate race “with open arms,” the NRSC set up PatrickMurphy2016.com, attempting to outline his “troubling past” with Florida voters.
Murphy is the first official candidate for the Senate seat expected to be vacated by Marco Rubio’s likely presidential bid.
The 31-year-old Murphy told The Associated Press on Monday that he’s “a consensus-builder” and “an independent voice.”
Rubio has not officially announced a presidential campaign, but he has said he would not seek re-election to the Senate if he does. Florida law prohibits a candidate from seeking two offices simultaneously on the same ballot.
“Patrick Murphy is an overly ambitious Washington politician who needs to grow up and the United States Senate doesn’t have a kids table,” said NRSC spokesperson Andrea Bozek. “No matter how much money Murphy’s dad pours into the race, we’re confident Floridians will reject his candidacy because of his fierce support for ObamaCare which cuts $716 billion from Medicare.”
Murphy won national exposure, and the respect of many in the Democratic Party, when he unseated firebrand tea party U.S. Rep. Allen West in 2012. His candidacy comes after two high- profile Democrats said they wouldn’t seek the Senate — former Gov. Charlie Crist and Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Material from The Associated Press was used in this post.
