While he has positioned himself as a moderate during his two terms in Congress on economic issues, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., is relying on big labor as he runs to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the U.S. Senate. Currently running for the Republican presidential nomination, Rubio has said he will not seek a second term in the Senate.
On Friday, Murphy reeled in the endorsement of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA).
“I'm humbled and excited by LIUNA’s support of our campaign and to have the confidence of so many working families across Florida,” said Murphy. “Our middle class was built by strong unions, and they remain the most committed supporters of working families across Florida and across our country. In the U.S. Senate, I will fight for Florida’s working families – for workers' rights, for better wages, and for a vibrant middle class.”
Glenn Farner, the business manager of LIUNA’s Southeast Laborers' District Council, insisted Murphy stood with organized labor.
“LIUNA is proud to endorse Patrick because he supports our working families and we believe that his commonsense approach to leadership is exactly what Florida needs right now,” Farner said. “Time and again, Patrick has proven that he will fight to protect our workers’ rights, fight for their hard-earned, high-quality union health benefits, and fight to raise the minimum wage.”
LIUNA isn’t the only major labor organization to back Murphy. The Teamster and AFSCME are also standing behind his Senate bid.
Murphy’s new endorsement drew the fire of the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) which insisted he was moving left to fend off primary rival U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla.
“Patrick Murphy’s labor union endorsement this morning is yet another chapter in his continued efforts to fight Alan Grayson’s characterization of him as an ‘errand boy for Wall Street, ' but Murphy’s record once again shreds his credibility with Democrat voters,” the NRSC insisted on Friday. “ After losing out on an endorsement from the Progressive Democrats of America, Murphy was undoubtedly hoping to stop the bleeding by touting his union support.
“Not so fast,” the NRSC continued. “As with most issues, Murphy’s past statements and votes just don’t square up with his new rhetoric."
The NRSC noted Murphy backed creating a congressional committee to investigate former U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton’s handling of the Benghazi terrorist attacks, was trying to outflank Grayson to the left over Social Security and relied on Super PACs even while calling for campaign finance reform.
“Murphy continues to sprint hard to the left,” the NRSC insisted. “Unfortunately for Democrats, this bloody primary won’t go away just because Murphy wants to run and hide from his past statements.”
Attorney and Navy veteran Pam Keith is also running in the Democratic primary to replace Rubio.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
