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The fissures between Florida Democrats and their party's more liberal wing were exposed Monday when a progressive group said Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando would be a better Senate contender than the only big-name Democrat who has already declared his candidacy, Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter.

In a conference call with reporters, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida said Grayson had been the preferred candidate among members in an unscientific poll.

"We've seen a real fight in Alan Grayson that we think is needed," said Susan Smith, the group's chairwoman.

Grayson is known as a liberal firebrand, while Murphy, who ousted Republican Allen West in 2012, is a centrist who at times has sided with Republicans (notably in supporting the Keystone XL pipeline).

"When he talks about Social Security and Medicare, Patrick Murphy sounds often sounds more like Paul Ryan than Elizabeth Warren," lamented Nancy Jacobson, a Democratic National Committee member from Orange County.

"Most of the time, he doesn't act like a Democrat at all," added Ernest Ciarrocchi of the South Shore Democratic Club.

National Democrats appear keen on Murphy's chances of winning in purple Florida if, as expected, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio announces a presidential bid next week.

But Smith argued a Democratic nominee will need the help of an excited base already disenchanted by last year's failed candidacy by Charlie Crist for governor. Crist was once a Republican. So was Murphy. Both their Democratic candidacies point to the party's slim Florida bench -- and to the fact that despite progressives' pleas, moderates know the liberal base is more likely to vote for them than for a Republican.

Smith and other progressives made repeated mention of liberal hero Warren, the Massachusetts senator, and derided "Wall Street Democrats." There was no mention of the pragmatist Hillary Clinton, the party's likely presidential nominee, who could face a similar enthusiasm gap as Murphy if party activists don't feel drawn to her eventual campaign.

A Grayson campaign is hardly certain, however. Smith insisted her group intends for there to be a "strong primary."

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Liberal Democrats want Grayson over Murphy

Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland is ahead of Sen. Rob Portman (R) by nine points in a new Quinnipiac University poll out today, a result that has to make Democrats eyeing the possibility of retaking the Senate in 2016 very, very happy.

Strickland stands at 48 percent to 39 percent for Portman, who, after stints in the House and the Bush administration, is in the midst of his first Senate term. Strickland's lead is built almost exclusively on an 18-point edge over Portman among independents although he also wins a larger portion of self-identified Democrats (85 percent) than Portman does among Republicans (79 percent).

Why is this poll such good news for Democrats? Because it makes clear that Ohio is very much in play with Strickland as their nominee (the former governor still faces a primary from Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld). That makes the 2016 playing field a seat bigger, giving Democrats more margin for error as they try to win back the four (if a Democrat wins the White House) or five (if he/she but really she doesn't) seats they need to reclaim the majority.

As I wrote in a Senate analysis back in February:

Yes, Republicans such as Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.) are in a tenuous position to win second terms. But beyond that, there are no races that today you would call 50-50. Sure, Pennsylvania is a Democratic state, but Sen. Patrick J. Toomey is an able candidate, andDemocrats are down on the prospect of a rerun from former congressman Joe Sestak. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Richard Burr (N.C.) are all relatively young and have faced real races in the not-too-distant past. Yes, they sit in swing (or Democratic-leaning) states, but none of them are underdogs (or even close) yet.

Now, this is ONE poll and the first one from a credible organization we've seen in this race. Do I think Portman, one of the most able politicians in the Senate, is going to lose to Strickland by nine points? I don't. In fact, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the Portman folks leaked out some of their own internal poll numbers showing the senator in much stronger shape in the next few days. For what it's worth, here's what Portman campaign manager Corry Bliss had to say about the poll: This poll shows one thing and one thing only, Ohio is doing so much better since Ted Strickland left office that people forgot what an awful governor he was."

But, the combination of the ballot test, Strickland's terrific favorable/unfavorable ratings (49 percent favorable/29 percent unfavorable) and the relative anonymity of Portman (44 percent haven't heard enough about him to offer an opinion) suggest that this is a very real race.

That's a win and a big one this early in the election cycle for Democrats.

Chris Cillizza writes The Fix, a politics blog for the Washington Post. He also covers the White House.

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The Fix: This poll is very good news for Senate Democrats

SALEM, OR (KPTV) -

Oregon's Senate approved a $7.225 billion education funding bill Monday along party lines.

Democrats say the $600 million dollar increase in funding will provide stability in Oregon schools and allow for full-day, free kindergarten for all children for the first time in state history. Senate republicans say democrats voted against their $7.56 billion proposal despite admitting $7.225 billion was not enough.

Democrats say their budgetHouse Bill 5017is part of a multi-year investment to get education funding back on track after years of cuts.

Senate republicans released their $7.56 billion budget ahead of Monday morning's session. They say their budget would reduce classroom sizes and allow schools to start offering art, music and P.E. classes where they were cut.

Democrats have spent the last decade disinvesting in K-12 education, said Senator Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River). Oregon has the worst graduation rate and some of the largest class sizes in the nation, $7.5 billion would have been the first step toward proving kids truly are our first priority, but I think even that number is too low.

Senate democrats say their funding bill is just the beginning of long term improvements to the state's K-12 education system.

As a lifelong educator, I have always fought for more dollars in our classroom, said Senator Ron Monroe (D-Portland). With today's vote we set the floor for fundingnot the maximum amount of funding that our schools can get, but the minimum.

In 2013 Oregon's House of Representatives added $1 billion to the state's K-12 school system. Democrats say their $7.225 billion budget is a 9 percent increase that will maintain the legislature's historic boost to education. Democrats say HB 5017 also allows for automatic triggers to boost education funding if the state has extra money.

"This budget provides an increase of $605 million of state funds and an estimated increase of $351 million in local funds, equaling a $956 million total funds increase for K-12 schools in the next biennium. It fully funds full-day kindergarten and allows us to maintain the $1 billion in investments we made in Oregon classrooms two years ago," said Senator Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). "It provides a floor for funding that will allow school districts to move ahead with the process of writing their budgets while we await the May forecast and work to find even more dollars for Oregon's schools."

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Ore. Senate Dem's pass multi-billion dollar education budget, Republicans say it's not enough

GERALD CELENTE: The Republicans Democrats Are Thieves Murderers
Our favorite economic and trends analyst in the world, Gerald Celente from the Trends Journal returns to SGT Report to discuss the current state of affairs in the United States and beyond....

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GERALD CELENTE: The Republicans & Democrats Are Thieves & Murderers - Video

Nick Clegg #39;s speech to Spring Conference 2015
In Nick Clegg #39;s keynote speech to Spring Conference 2015, he outlines how the Liberal Democrats have built a stronger economy and a fairer a society, and why we are the party to take Britain...

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