So much for losing graciously.
The primary challengers to Sens. John McCain and Marco Rubio _ Republicans Kelli Ward and Carlos Beruff _ and Rep. Alan Grayson who lost his Senate bid to fellow Florida Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy _ were very critical of their opponents as the results of Tuesday's vote became clear.
Ward called McCain an "unprincipled career politician."
"As Senator McCain said, 'It shouldn't be beyond us to refrain from substituting character assassination and mean-spiritedness for spirited debate,'" she said in a statement. "After refusing to debate while running a slash and burn campaign devoid of actual ideas, I hope the senator can rest comfortably with his conscience as he continues to lecture others about civility."
She added her prediction for the future of her party: "The Republican Party cannot win as a national party if we keep nominating unprincipled career politicians whose only objective is perpetual re-election."
Though he said he would vote for Rubio _ "the best remaining option" _ Beruff attacked him in a post on his campaign website for going back on his word when he decided to run for re-election after his presidential bid ended. And he took a shot at his other primary opponents who bailed after Rubio got into the race.
"I made the miscalculation of taking Mr. Rubio at his word that he wouldn't seek re-election if he lost the presidential primary," Beruff wrote. "Even in March he reiterated that he has told people '10,000' times that he is not running for re-election. I guess I was silly to believe the words of a Washington politician.
"Once Mr. Rubio went back on his word, all the other candidates (being the politicians that they are) ran scurrying for the exits. David Jolly went back to running for Congress, Ron DeSantis went back to running for Congress, and Carlos Lopez-Cantera went back to doing whatever it is that he does, which is basically nothing except collect a check from the Florida taxpayers."
Beruff said Rubio made a "life mistake."
"A man's word is the most important thing he has. Mr. Rubio must live with that decision," Beruff wrote.
Grayson said he wouldn't vote for Murphy, who beat him going away in the Florida Democratic primary.
"I'm not going to be endorsing Patrick Murphy for sure," Grayson said amid returns Tuesday night. "He's a Republican."
