Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's last-minute decision to run for re-election — and a
television take down of Democrat Rep. Patrick Murphy questioning his credentials and resume — is threatening to upend a crucial battle for Senate control,
Politico reports.
According to Politico, Republicans are looking to damage Murphy so badly that Democrats will be forced to overspend on his behalf ahead of the state's Aug. 30 primary, or abandon the race.
The GOP is also adopting a strategy that's been used against it in the past, Politico reports — ropping up an outside-the-mainstream candidate in the opposing party, in this case,
liberal Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson.
A GOP win in Florida could help the party retain control in the Senate, where Republicans have just a four-seat advantage — and after the damaging CBS News story about Murphy emerged,
the GOP released an ad focusing on the issue.
According to Politico, the Democratic Party's Senate campaign arm and leadership-backed Senate Majority PAC have no plans to drop the $20 million in TV reservations it has for Florida.
"The arguments against Rubio are far stronger and will cut more persuasively with the voters than any of this stuff," New York Sen. Chuck Schumer tells the outlet.
But they're "circling the wagons," questioning the timing and quality of the CBS report, Politico reports.
"That was totally BS," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, said of the Murphy takedown, insisting Republicans "know they can’t beat Murphy. They know that."
"It's no surprise that Republicans are worried and want to prop up a candidate like Alan Grayson," said Galia Slayen, a spokeswoman for Murphy, tells Politico.
For now, Rubio is focused on his race against both Murphy and Grayson.
"You can't believe anything [Murphy] says … this guy's lied about everything he's ever done," Rubio tells Politico, adding, "Alan Grayson is insane."
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