There could be quite a big battle going on in the state of Florida in 2016 and it may not have anything to do with the Presidential campaign.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has an eye on the Senate seat presently owned by Marco Rubio. According to multiple media reports the former South Florida Congresswoman is warming up to the idea of making a run at the Rubio seat.
You may recall that Rubio has told advisers that if he were to make a run at the Republican Presidential in 2016 then he would not seek re-election to the Senate. In a National Journal back in April of 2014 Rubio made it clear to the rest of the world that he would NOT run for both the GOP Presidential nomination and the Senate seat in 2016, it would be one or the other.
Even if Rubio doesn’t leave his seat open for a White House run, Florida often tilts Democratic in presidential years, and Hillary Clinton would most likely be at the top of the ticket drawing out women and African-Americans in heavy numbers. A high-profile congresswoman with a strong base and proven fundraising record, Republicans and Democrats agree, has all the makings of a very competitive Senate candidate.
But according to POLITICO not everyone share Wasserman Schultz Senate dreams of for that matter thinks that is a good idea.
“I don’t think the Senate is a default position,” said Democratic consultant James Carville. “It’s not like, maybe you can be designated hitter.”
Meanwhile, in Florida and Washington, the name that keeps coming up is Democratic focus is on Rep. Patrick Murphy, a young congressman from the 18th Congressional District. It considered by many to be a swing district and he has already proven to have a strong fundraising base of his own and the capacity to do some self-financing.
So it is the new face of Murphy vs. the
who has a long record for either Rubio or another GOP contender to use against her. We will keep a look out over the next six months or so as we see if Senator Rubio makes a Presidential run, if he gives up his seat and finally if it will be either Congressman Murphy or Ms. Wasserman Schultz who mounts a Democratic challenge.