Tuesday, November 6, 2012
AP calls Bill Nelson the winner in U.S. Senate race in Florida
Posted by Mitch Perry on Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 8:30 PM
The Associated Press is reporting that with all of the polls closed (or somewhat closed, as there maybe some people still waiting in lines across the state), Bill Nelson has won re-election to a third term for U.S. Senate in Florida, defeating his Republican challenger, Connie Mack IV.
On Monday in Tampa, CL asked Mack what he made of the fact that, though a Mason-Dixon Poll taken over the weekend showed Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama by six points in the Sunshine State, the same pollster showed Mack losing to Nelson, 49-43 percent. Mack had said his fortunes would echo how well Romney did at the top of the ticket.
Mack said he didn't buy the polls. None of them that showed him losing, saying, "When you over sample Democrats by six points, it makes it difficult for us to win, but Democrats are not going to be six points higher on election day than Republicans . In fact, its never happened in the state of Florida … this race is either tied or we're up by a point or two, that's where we are. The day after the election you're all going to be writing stories about how the turnout model were all wrong in the polls and that Republicans turned out in record numbers."
Well, Republicans may end up tonight turning up in record numbers, but it won't be for Mack.
In a press release, Nelson said, "I am thankful to the Lord, and, I am humbled by the support of the people of Florida. … Grace and I are grateful for this continued privilege of public service."
Nelson and Mack engaged in a bitter battle of words. But in victory, Nelson was contrite.
"I'd like to say that Connie Mack was my opponent, not my enemy." Nelson said. "You know, these days the extremists in our political system try to divide. We need to unify."
"So," Nelson continued, "I promise tonight to continue to try and break that partisan gridlock."
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