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发帖数: 29846 | 1 Republican David Jolly wins Fla. congressional special election in test race
over health care
Republican David Jolly narrowly defeated Democrat Alex Sink on Tuesday in a
Tampa-area House race largely seen as a critical test for ObamaCare.
With nearly 100 percent of the vote counted, Jolly had 48.5 percent of the
vote to Sink's 46.7 percent. Libertarian Lucas Overby had 4.8 percent.
The race to replace the late Rep. Bill Young was considered a tossup, and
was cast as a political bellwether, and a testing ground for each party's
messaging strategy, revolving in part around the Affordable Care Act.
"As your congressman, I will always be accessible. I will serve humbly and
with honor," Jolly told supporters at a victory rally. "While this campaign
has seemed at times to be partisan, your next congressman is not partisan."
Jolly, a former aide to Young, had, along with Republican groups, spent
millions to hammer his Democratic opponent over ObamaCare.
Sink, who narrowly lost the 2010 governor's race to incumbent Gov. Rick
Scott, had cautiously embraced the health law -- while insisting it urgently
needs fixing. She had played down its importance in the special election.
"I hear a number of different issues that people are concerned about -- like
protecting Social Security and Medicare," she said. "They're frustrated
with Washington, believe that Washington is not working for them."
The perception of what the race means inspired both parties to call in star
advocates like President Bill Clinton and former vice presidential candidate
Paul Ryan, in addition to blanketing the district with ads, calls and
mailings. More than $11 million was spent on the race, according to the
Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit group that tracks government information.
More than one in four registered voters in the district is older than 65, a
population that could account for more than half of those casting ballots.
The battle for Florida's 13th District seat is a prequel of sorts to the
national fight this year over who controls Congress in the last two years of
Obama's final presidential term. The House is expected to remain under
Republican control. But in the Senate, Republicans are hoping to leverage
Obama's unpopularity and his health care law's wobbly start to gain the six
seats required to control the 100-member chamber.
That made the race in Florida a pricey proving ground for both parties, with
the candidates the faces of the effort.
Jolly, backed by Republicans and outside groups, said Sink would undermine
Medicare because of Democratic-passed cuts to programs under the health law.
Sink and her allies, meanwhile, painted Jolly an extremist who wanted to
privatize Social Security and gut Medicare.
Clinton recorded a phone call last week seeking local volunteers to help
with Sink's campaign, and a half dozen House Democrats emailed fundraising
appeals to their own supporters on her behalf. More than a third of Jolly's
campaign contributions came from members of Congress.
Meanwhile, Ryan joined Jolly on a conference call with voters, while
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul recorded a phone message for the GOP
nominee aimed at supporters of Libertarian candidate Lucas Overby.
While Republicans held the congressional seat for four decades until Young's
death last year, the district's voters favored Obama in the 2008 and 2012
presidential elections. The district is 37 percent Republican, 35 percent
Democrat and 24 percent independent.
Sink outspent Jolly by more than 3 to 1 on television advertising, though
outside groups aligned with the GOP have helped narrow the overall
Democratic advantage. | T*********I
发帖数: 10729 | 2 好！
Republican wins Fla. special election seen as referendum on ObamaCare | T*********I
发帖数: 10729 | |
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