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Florida Democrats Have Clear Choice in Race to Replace Rubio

The Florida Senate Seal
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Democrats must decide whether their best shot at winning the Senate seat now held by Marco Rubio is a liberal firebrand who has said the GOP health plan was to hope people die quickly, or a moderate Democrat who often votes with the GOP.

Rubio is giving up his seat to run for president, and it's targeted by Democrats hoping to regain a Senate majority. The two major candidates are U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a favorite with his party's far left, and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a former Republican who has sided with the GOP on issues such as loosening banking regulations and weakening President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The Democratic establishment is behind Murphy, seeing him as the stronger general election candidate, while Grayson argues he's the only true Democrat in the race.