Democratic loss in Florida special election: omen for November?

[cali]

In the Democratic playbook, Alex Sink was going to show her party how to overcome public unhappiness with Obamacare – and its author, President Obama – by winning a tossup congressional district in the biggest battleground state, Florida.

That didn’t happen. Ms. Sink, initially the better-known and better-funded candidate, lost to first-time candidate David Jolly (R), a Washington lobbyist and former aide to the late Rep. Bill Young (R), whose St. Petersburg-centered seat he will now occupy.

Mr. Jolly didn’t win by much: 48.5 percent to Sink’s 46.6 percent, with Libertarian candidate Lucas Overby taking 4.8 percent. But a win is a win, and Democrats are left scrambling for a Plan B as they head into a challenging midterm election season. Retaking control of the House now looks even more unlikely; holding onto the Senate remains the Democrats’ primary imperative.

“Dems should not try to spin this loss,” tweeted Democratic strategist Paul Begala. “We have to redouble our efforts for 2014. Too much at stake. #noexcuses.”

<snip>

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/House/2014/0312/Democratic-loss-in-Florida-special-election-omen-for-November

[geek tragedy]

1. The real fight is keeping the Senate. We're not going to win the House in 2014.

Our base only shows up in presidential elections. Sigh.

[Fumesucker]

2. I always thought a name like Sink wasn't really great for politics

Irresistible for headline writers, most of whom seem to write for a fourth grade mentality.

[MFM008]

28. all she was missing

was the T.
STINK.

[Beaverhausen]

3. Anyone know the last time a democrat held that seat?

Can we take any comfort in how close the vote was?

[dsc]

5. It was at least 30 years

[ChiciB1]

14. Actually 44 Years!

Bill Young was there for a very, very long time. Way, way back when I lived there in the 70's! I can't recall another name EVER there. I actually had to have him help with an issue once. He was a very nice person, but THEN along came Tom DeLay and it went down hill from there.

Pinellas & Hillsborough Counties (Tampa) have been a bit more Progressive than many in Florida... BUT she still couldn't do it. AND she was trending ahead in the so called polls for quite some time!

The district was redrawn to include some of Tampa, but Sink is well known in Tampa. Don't care WHAT her name is, she's been a political player here in Florida for a long time! I have no answers, but I can tell you the BIG Guys in the Party must be talking "smack" because she really should have won this. Big time DC Democrats had better get a plan.

And this guy Jolly is much more right leaning than Bill Young! It's GOTV & I know they were out knocking, but as I said at another thread... Repukes will vote for a snake is it has an (R) behind it's name! Can't beat the facts, they may have NO CLUE about what any candidate stands for, but THEY VOTE!

Unfortunately, where I live Vern Buchanan, crook that he is will most likely win ANOTHER election here. He's a horrible Representative and has numerous lawsuits filed against him over many years, but he keeps winning! I have many comments or remarks I could make, but some would be much too derogatory and only make me look disgusting!

[Mayflower1]

6. Obama won it both times

[Gidney N Cloyd]

17. Looks like only in '12, and then only by 1% margin. McCain won in '08. Bush won it big in '00 & '04

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida%27s_13th_congressional_district#Voting

Election results from presidential races
Year Office Results
2000 President George W. Bush 55% - Al Gore 46%[4]
2004 President George W. Bush 56% - John Kerry 44%[4]
2008 President John McCain 52% - Barack Obama 47%[4]
2012 President Barack Obama 50% - Mitt Romney 49%[5]

[ChiciB1]

15. NOPE, NOPE & MORE NOPES!

Sink has high name recognition so THAT wasn't the problem. Democrats sitting out elections regardless of issues IS THE PROBLEM!

Low, low turn out!

[Beaverhausen]

19. If this seat was republican for over 30 years, how is it a swing district?

why did so many think Sink could win?

[winter is coming]

26. Rick Santorum also has name recognition.

It does matter why people know your name.

[former9thward]

18. Not really, since a Libertarian was the only reason the vote was close.

Can't count on Libs to be on the ballot in every race.

[DrDan]

25. no - that libertarian took 5% - without him, it would not have been close at all

[DCBob]

4. Indeed a very bad omen. RW media has been spinning the negatives on Obamacare 24x7.

We are in very dangerous territory here if we lose the Senate. There is no telling what these lunatics might do if they get control of both chambers.

[Vogon_Glory]

7. This Is Still Only mid-March

Despite the clacking of the chattering classes, this is still only Mid-March. A lot can happen between now and then, as we Learned by watching Republican candidates' political fortunes rise and plunge during the primaries.

At least some of the right-wing myth-making about Obama-Romneycare ought to have worn off between now and then and the good guys still have over half a year to organize and mobilize.

[librechik]

8. wait, a Republican lobbyist insider wins a narrow election in FL against the favored Dem?

not worth the untraceable ballots it was stolen with. There is no democracy since 2000 (at least)

[NightWatcher]

9. No, Sink is a loser who cannot campaign

She lost to pRick Scott for Governor even after it was well known that he was a convicted Medicare fraudster who had paid huge fines. Now she lost to a GOP lobbyist in St Pete.

She is a loser. This does not mean anything else besides the fact that she shouldn't run for Florida office ever again.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. I don't know what to tell you about the Sink campaign.

I kept getting emails from them claiming that I lived in Pinellas county. Well, I don't. There is no election going on in Central Florida so I didn't feel her sense of urgency.

Can't say that my ten bucks would have made a difference. I just wonder how many other people were contacted with information that would haven't caught their attention either.

[Autumn]

20. You are in Florida? What was Sink's position on Social Security?

[Baitball Blogger]

22. No idea.

This election I will probably have to hold my nose to vote. No one who is going to get elected is going to help me through a serious community matter that I've been dealing with for years. Unfortunately, there is a dynasty thing going on that I see no end to. Florida Democrats are in desperate need of new blood.

They're not going to change fast enough to make a difference in my life, unfortunately. I'll vote party line, because I know that Republicans are far worse. But understanding the Dem's platforms is irrelevant, because the nature of politics in Florida is that both parties negotiate between themselves to reach consensus.

[Autumn]

23. That sucks. I wish you luck, sounds like

Florida needs it.

[Baitball Blogger]

24. We desperately do. We desperately do.

[PhilSays]

11. Special election results are overhyped.

Just gives the pundits something to yap about to pay the rent.

[MineralMan]

12. Not really. Special House elections are not really

indicative of much of anything. They're special. They're different from regular elections. They're not an omen or indicator, IMO.

[SidDithers]

13. Republicans win a special election, in a district that's been Republican since 1983...

And it's a "loss" and an "omen" for Democrats.



Sid

[ChisolmTrailDem]

16. It's Florida. Chill out. nt

[zappaman]

21. Nope. n/t

[Rex]

27. IMO, no not at all.

I've read that seat was paid for by GOP money - that we ALMOST won, give me a lot of hope in November.

[11 Bravo]

29. Doing a happy dance? A repug lobbyist, backed by $5 million in outside cash, carries a district ...

that has been held by a Republican for at least 4 decades ... and you manage to imply, curiously enough (while employing the same line of attack as the RNC and FoxNews), that it's the fault of President Obama and the ACA. Well done ...


fellow Democrat.