[Iron Munro]

Much too close considering that Alex Sink backs Obamacare and this has been a solid republican seat for over 40 years.

[apillar]

Much too close considering that Alex Sink backs Obamacare and this has been a solid republican seat for over 40 years.

But Obama actually won the district in 2012, so it was by no means a Republican stronghold...

[DAC21]

“Much too close considering that Alex Sink backs Obamacare and this has been a solid republican seat for over 40 years”

Libertarian Candidate is the issue, it seems we are running against a Socialist Rat, and a Ross Perot split the vote candidate in all races at this point.

Like it or not, a Paul /Cruz ticket may be our best chance to win in 2016, if they ever kiss and make up.

[No Socialist]

Sink had a lot of negative advertising. Made Jolly seem like a crook and she still lost.

[rwfromkansas]

She had tons of time to prep, whereas we went through a primary fight first after Sink had already started doing attack ads etc.

[Linda Frances]

Much too close considering that Alex Sink backs Obamacare and this has been a solid republican seat for over 40 years.

---

But didn’t obama win last two elections?

[Dave W]

It has only been a solid R district because the deceased congressman had been in office for decades. The district is only +1% Republican and the Democrat running has run in several races and won statewide office before. Her name recognition (Sink) is high.

Sink was given a slight advantage by the political pros (due primarily to name recognition and spent more on ads), but all knew it would be close and could go either way.

As National Review stated several days ago, that November is not going to be all Obamacare, there are other issues people care about. As this race shows, Obamacare is not the magic winning formula you may think it is.

[Kazan]

Much too close considering that Alex Sink backs Obamacare and this has been a solid republican seat for over 40 years.

It's a district that voted for Obama twice and voted for Sink when she ran for governor.

It was only a Republican seat because one Republican that died had held it for 42 years.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

In 1951 NY Giant, Bobby Thompson hit a 150 foot home run in the Polo Grounds ballpark to win the National League Pennant, over the Brooklyn Dodgers. A puny, meager flyball in most ball parks....but it became famously known...”As the home run heard round the world!!!”.

David Jolly won by a little less then 4,000 votes. End result: A win is a win is a win!!! Congrats Me. Jolly!!!

[Texas Fossil]

From what I have read it had been redistricted and was not the same for that long.

[ExCTCitizen]

It is a purple district. When Bill Young was first elected, it was the first Republican district, but now it is an urban district and Sink and Obama won it (Sink when she ran for Gov against Scott, Obama both times).

Most of the district from the 60s are now solid Republican districts.