Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., has landed the endorsements of President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in his bid for Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat.
Biden will also campaign with Murphy, who is running against Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., on March 28, the campaign announced Wednesday morning.
“Patrick has been a tireless champion for middle-class families and a defender of the economic progress that American workers and businesses have made,” Obama said in the statement about the Jupiter representative. “In Congress, he’s fought to strengthen Medicare and Social Security, reform our criminal justice system, and protect a woman’s right to choose. Floridians can count on Patrick Murphy to stand up for them every day as their next senator.”
Biden added, “Patrick Murphy has the progressive values, the work ethic and the youthful energy the U.S. Senate needs. He’ll work tirelessly to bring people together to make a difference for Florida’s middle class.”
Though Obama and Biden have not made a public endorsement in the Democratic presidential race, Murphy supports Hillary Clinton while his rival, Grayson, supports Bernie Sanders.
On Monday, a Public Police Polling survey showed Grayson leading Murphy, 32 percent to 22 percent, though 45 percent of likely Democratic primary voters in the Sunshine State say they are undecided.
