Barack Obama Just Endorsed Patrick Murphy, but Alan Grayson Leads in Latest Polls

[Jefferson23]

In 2008, Patrick Murphy was a Republican who cut a $2,300 check to Mitt Romney. In 2016, he's a Democratic congressman running for U.S. Senate who just got the endorsement of Barack Obama. How things change.

This despite the fact that a poll released yesterday shows that while the majority of Florida's Democratic voters remain undecided, Rep. Alan Grayson has opened up an 11-point lead over Murphy. Grayson took the poll as proof he's in the lead and has already scheduled debates against Republican frontrunner Rep. David Jolly, despite the fact that neither has officially won his party's nomination yet and a plurality of voters on both sides remain undecided.

Florida's Democratic primary is shaping up to be the best political soap opera in the nation. Well, outside of the presidential primaries.


To back up: Murphy made a name for himself by defeating loathed Tea Party poster boy Allen West (remember him?) in a close race in a Palm Beach-area congressional district in 2012. When he announced his intention to run to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate, the state and national Democratic establishment quickly backed him. They cited Murphy's defeat of West as proof he could attract independent voters.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/barack-obama-just-endorsed-patrick-murphy-but-alan-grayson-leads-in-latest-polls-8290842

[earthshine]

1. No surprise. Obama picked a Republican for chairman of the FDA.

Obama complains that we don't think of him as "progressive."

He wants to nominate a Republican to the Supreme Court.

He's using what's left of his political capital to push the TPP and H-1B visas, despite opposition from most Democratic members of Congress.

He said the following after defeating Hillary in 2008 primaries. If he said it during the primary, we'd currently have president Clinton, mark II.

[Stellar]

2. LOL! nt

[earthshine]

3. You got something to say or do you just want to get your post count up?

There's nothing funny here.

[FBaggins]

4. My guess is that Stellar finds it funny...

... that anyone would spin this as an issue of relative progressiveness.

It could easily be an issue of political expediency (Grayson can't win) or one of ethics.

More likely both. Grayson shouldn't hold public office above dog catcher... he certainly shouldn't be our standard bearer for Senate in a year when we need to retake the chamber.

[earthshine]

5. Then, Stellar should have replied to the OP instead of me.

My query was not to you. So, this must be what you think.

Standard bearer? What?

According to the article, "In Congress, he's fought to strengthen Medicare and Social Security,..."

Well, that would make Murphy more of a progressive than Obama, who was more than willing to sacrifice SS to the alter of compromise with Republicans.

Grayson certainly has issues, both personal and professional, but he is unquestionably a prog. Obama doesn't get that label.

It will be interesting to see it play out.

[FBaggins]

6. He/she probably gave you the benefit of the doubt

and assumed that your comments could be taken in the context of what you replied to (the endorsement of Grayson's primary opponent).

Your comments appear to judge Obama as though he were endorsing Murphy in a vacuum. Why would he back a moderate over all of the progressives who are available?

Instead, he really only has two choices... and one of them (though more progressive) is clearly corrupt and unsuited to hold a position of trust (let alone one as critical as US Senator) - as well as being unelectable statewide.

It will be interesting to see it play out.

It's already played out. Obama/Biden/Reid collectively represent the fat lady.

[earthshine]

7. Really? The voters are the proverbial fat lady.

Obama's endorsements are not the end-all-be-all.

Are you going to continue to speak for Stellar?

[Stellar]

8. ding, ding, ding...you win!

Ya gotta let a gal know the next time you read her mind.

[yurbud]

9. and the DLCers always yell at progressives for not supporting the party...