Dem challenger knocks Rubio’s Senate attendance in new ad

Rep. Patrick Murphy’s (D-Fla.) campaign on Monday launched a new digital ad knocking Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) attendance in the upper chamber.

{mosads}The 30-second spot, titled “Absent,” specifically blasts Rubio for touting pro-Israel legislation on the presidential campaign trail but missing the vote.

It’s not the first time a rival candidate has hit Rubio over his attendance. When he ran in the GOP presidential primary, his opponents repeatedly chided him for missing Senate votes and committee hearings.

“When national security votes came before the Senate, Rubio missed them and when key foreign policy issues came before Senate committees, Rubio didn’t attend,” said Murphy spokeswoman Galia Slayen. “Floridians deserve a Senator who stands up every day for their safety and security. Marco Rubio is not that Senator and it’s embarrassing that he is touting a bill that he didn’t even show up to vote for.”

Rubio’s campaign pushed back, calling the ad a “false attack” and noting that there was no roll call vote because the bill was passed unanimously.

“Patrick Murphy has never accomplished anything in his life, and now he’s lying about Marco’s strong record of fighting to keep America safe,” Rubio spokesman Michael Ahrens said. “Marco’s work to put tough sanctions on Hezbollah was met with strong bipartisan support and passed unanimously. Actually getting results in Congress is something Patrick Murphy knows nothing about.”

Before he can face Rubio in the general, though, Murphy must first see off a heated primary fight against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), on Aug. 30.

Polls show Murphy ahead, and Grayson has faced calls from top party leaders, including incoming Democratic leader Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), to drop out. Grayson’s wife has leveled domestic abuse allegations against him.

Rubio has his own primary challenge against wealthy businessman Carlos Beruff, but he’ll likely advance to the November election.

The toss-up race for the Florida Senate seat could be pivotal to control of the upper chamber.

Murphy and Rubio are already looking past their primary challenges and lobbing attacks at each other.

A RealClearPolitics polling average shows Rubio up more than 4 points, but some recent surveys show the race in a dead heat.