Rod Blum campaign poll shows him up 16 points

[Kingpoleon]

This makes me so mad at stupid Patrick Murphy, who blew this seat for Democrats in 2014.  Once Republucans pick up swing seats, they are very difficult to dislodge, unlike Democrats, who don't seem to know how to properly use the advantages of incumbency to get re-elected.  

If he won that would have meant two Democratic Congressmen named Patrick Murphy (from swing seats). There also used to be another one, from PA-08 not too long ago.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Murphy_(Pennsylvania_politician)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Murphy_(Florida_politician)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Murphy_(Iowa_politician)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_O._Murphy (Massachusetts)

[Kingpoleon]

If Vernon loses, I expect Pat Murphy will run in 2018 or 2020.

Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania may run for Congress again, or he may remain Secretary of the Army/become Secretary of Defense.

[Kingpoleon]

If Vernon loses, I expect Pat Murphy will run in 2018 or 2020.

Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania may run for Congress again, or he may remain Secretary of the Army/become Secretary of Defense.

Murphy from Pennsylvania's future definitely lies in the Pentagon; he's Under Secretary of the Army at just 42. A very plausible career path would be moving up to Deputy Secretary of Defense (IIRC, multiple DSoDs have taken this exact career path) and staying there for a few years before becoming Secretary of Defense. He could very well be SoD before age 50.

Even if Hillary loses in 2020, even twelve or eighteen months as Defense Secretary would set him up perfectly to run for office later.