TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The race for the US senate in Florida reaches a critical point this week with the primary election just two days away. Republican Marco Rubio is running against Bay area businessman Carlos Beruff. Five candidates are vying against each other on the democratic side.
On Sunday morning’s edition of Your Vote Counts 2016, Democratic strategist Barry Edwards shared his views on the battle between what he calls the establishment and the anti-establishment.
First, there’s Congressman Patrick Murphy who has the support of President Obama and Vice President Biden. Murphy represents Palm Beach and the Fort Pierce areas of the state.
His campaign hasn’t been without controversy as he’s faced some serious questions about his resume, but his campaign has called them misleading and “deeply false.”
His biggest opponent is Congressman Alan Grayson who represents Florida’s space coast.
Grayson has found himself in several controversies as well including a run-in with a reporter as he refused to answer questions about his ex-wife’s claims of domestic abuse. Grayson has since denied those claims.
“Unfortunately for Grayson, the domestic violence is kind of weighing heavier than the resume fluffing,” Edwards said. “So I think Murphy is on an ascendancy right now. Grayson is on a descendency but they’re both so damaged it’s going to be difficult to beat (Florida Senator Marco) Rubio.”
Edwards also talked about the contender Pam Keith. She has no experience as an elected official, hardly has any money in her campaign coffers, and is campaigning as a Washington outsider.
“She’s very sharp,” Edwards said about Keith. “She’s very bright and she’s very passionate and she’s raised $50,000. Without money, you can’t compete so whatever skills she has, whatever resume she has, nobody knows about it because they’re haven’t seen her on TV.”
In a recent Saint Leo University poll, Murphy leads Grayson 48 to 17 percent among registered democrats.
