TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – One Florida senate candidate is trying to distance himself from Donald Trump. It’s not Republican Senator Marco Rubio but Democrat Congressman Patrick Murphy.
“It’s Marco Rubio’s desperate attempts. It’s an absolute lie. We’ve never done business with Donald Trump,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy at WFLA’s studios on Oct. 18. There’s no confusing Congressman Patrick Murphy’s answer, even when asked a second time.
“No, absolutely not. We’ve never had a contract with Donald Trump,” Murphy said.
Patrick Murphy’s father, Tom Murphy owns Miami-based Coastal Construction. The congressman owns millions in company stock. If you check out Coastal Construction’s website and you’ll see not one but two high rises bearing Trump’s name. And there’s also a picture of Murphy’s father and Trump shoveling dirt at a ground breaking together.
Murphy’s campaign responding by email Thursdays:
Donald Trump showed up for a photo-op and collected a check to have his name written on the side of a building. The project’s developer paid him for that kind of marketing, and that was extent of his involvement. Coastal Construction has never worked for Donald Trump. We welcome Marco Rubio’s desire for this election to be decided over who supports Donald Trump and who wants him to be president.
Murphy has gone full throttle on attacks of his opponent Marco Rubio who denounced Trump’s comments about women, but Rubio continues to endorse the republican nominee.
“Marco Rubio is just trying to distract and confuse the voters because he is so concerned with his own choice for president,” Murphy said.
Voters will now have to decide, who has the closer ties if it matters and if this is a distraction or a lie.
“It’s an absolute lie, we’ve never done business with Donald Trump,” Murphy said.
There are many polls in recent weeks regarding this race. One poll shows Rubio and Murphy tied but most polls show Rubio with a lead. Real Clear Politics giving Rubio an almost four-point lead with 12 days to go.
