As a smiling group of newly elected Democrats in the U.S. House gathered for a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, most of them were only going to play the part of a backdrop for top Democrats as they celebrated their gains in last week's elections.
That is, a minor role for all of the freshmen except one.
"His election, as is the others, is a cause for celebration," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, as she introduced that one, special freshmen, Patrick Murphy of Florida.
Why Murphy? Because right now, he leads Tea Party favorite, Rep. Allen West by about 1900 votes, and a defeat of West - one of the most outspoken Republican lawmakers elected in the Tea Party wave of 2010 - would be pure enjoyment for Democrats.
"Congratulations, Congressman-Elect Patrick Murphy," a beaming Pelosi said, as applause erupted from the other Democrats on stage.
"I just defeated someone you all may well know," Murphy said with a chuckle and a big smile.
"You know the one message I heard all the time was the need for bipartisanship," Murphy told reporters.
About the same time, lawyers for West were going to court in Florida to ask St. Lucie County to recount all of the over 37,000 early voting ballots cast in that county.
On Sunday, elections officials recounted 16,275 ballots that were cast in the final three days of early voting - they showed Murphy's totals dropping 667 votes, while West went down 132.
"It stands to reason that if the remaining early votes were to be recounted, additional errors would be uncovered, a statement from West’s campaign said.
That legal move came a few hours after state of Florida elections officials sent three workers down to St. Lucie County to check on the status of this Congressional race.
Murphy would be known as the youngest member of the 113th Congress - at age 29 - if he officially wins election.
But right now, Democrats aren't interested in his age - they just like that he knocked off Allen West, one of the biggest Tea Party draws on the GOP side.
So, while West says the race isn't over, Murphy is forging ahead with freshmen orientation, hoping the numbers stay in his favor.
