In Preview of 2014 Midterms, Republican David Jolly Wins Special Election for Florida's 13th Congressional District

MSM outlets were painting this race as the ultimate preview of the 2014 midterms. Here's Politico earlier today, "The Jolly-Sink showdown: What to watch":

After almost $9 million in outside spending, a storm of attacks and counterattacks and endless speculation about its implications for the midterms, voters have cast their ballots in the Florida special congressional election on Tuesday.

The stakes are particularly high for Democrats. The party has bet big on Alex Sink, Florida’s former chief financial officer and the Democrats’ 2010 gubernatorial nominee, in the race for the swing 13th Congressional District, which encompasses part of the St. Petersburg area. A win, Democrats hope, will deflate the conventional wisdom that 2014 is destined to go south for them.

For the GOP, the race has been an opportunity to test-drive attacks on Obamacare, which are certain to be the centerpiece of its argument in this year’s midterm elections. And while national Republicans complain that their candidate, former Washington lobbyist David Jolly, has been lackluster, public polling suggests the race is tight.

The two candidates are vying to replace GOP Rep. Bill Young, who died in October after representing the seat for more than four decades...

President Obama carried the district in 2012. Here's the report at ABC News, "What Today’s Special Election in Florida Reveals About November." And Alex Sink is a former Chief Financial Officer of Florida with deep-pockets political supporters on the left. Her loss is nothing short of devastating for Democrat Party hopes of running strong in November amid the disastrous Unaffordable Care Act clusterf-k.

Here's the report at the Tampa Bay Times, "David Jolly elected to represent Pinellas County in Congress": (via Memeorandum):

Sink conceded shortly before 8 p.m., calling it "disappointing" but heaping praise on the more than 2,000 people who volunteered for her campaign and knocked on 150,000 doors.

"But for all that, it just wasn't quite enough to take us over the victory line," Sink said to a crowd of about 200 at the St. Petersburg Hilton Carillon.

Aides whisked Sink away before reporters could ask whether she would run again in November.

"I'm stunned," said Mary Freeman, a member of the Pinellas Democratic Executive Committee. "I have never seen a candidate work so hard, really. It was 24/7. She visited so many businesses and communities in the district, and even had Republicans saying they were going to vote for her."

The contest drew national attention and eye-popping spending — more than $12 million, the bulk from outside groups that drowned out local issues and underscored a fundamental shift in control away from candidates.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Sink was "ultimately brought down because of her unwavering support for Obamacare and that should be a loud warning for other Democrats running coast to coast."

Sink and her allies attacked Jolly for his lobbying career and contended he wanted to undermine Social Security and Medicare, essential programs to the district's older voters.

But Jolly and outside Republicans hammered away at Sink's support of the Affordable Care Act and had an unpopular president in their corner as well.

More.

And see Twitchy, "Republicans hold on to Florida congressional seat in special election."

GOP wasn't supposed to win this. Congratulations Congressman David Jolly. Democrats put everything into this and lost. Congrats @NRCC.
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) March 11, 2014

Dems suffer embarrassing defeat to congressman elect David Jolly in Florida. Great sign ahead 4 November!
— Stephen Calandrino (@SteveCalandrino) March 12, 2014

Added: From the New York Times, "Victory in Florida Race Bolsters Midterm Hopes for Republicans":

The victory will embolden Republicans as they head into the midterm election and bolster their message — that the nation disapproves of the Affordable Care Act and Mr. Obama’s leadership.

“Tonight, one of Nancy Pelosi’s most prized candidates was ultimately brought down because of her unwavering support for Obamacare, and that should be a loud warning for other Democrats running coast to coast,” said Representative Greg Walden of Oregon, who is chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, referring to the House Democratic leader.

For Democrats, the loss is a significant blow to morale. Ms. Sink, 65, a moderate who lost her race for governor in 2010, is a well-known party figure and ran a well-organized campaign awash in donations and buoyed by millions of dollars of outside spending.