Despite Mr Ossoff's better-than-expected performance, the Republican party is expected to mount a much stronger campaign for the run-off in June, and is likely to back Ms Handel, a former secretary of state for Georgia. Former Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards defeated entrepreneur Benny Crane in a runoff.
That said, if you'll allow a strictly personal observation here: Ossoff has about the creepiest vibe I've ever seen.
Late Tuesday night, Ossoff was jubilant about his showing in the race. "That no matter what the outcome is tonight - whether we take it all or whether we fight on - we have survived the odds". A movement that began because of Trump is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon. He even mocked Ossoff's choice of residence - outside the district. Republicans are bidding to prevent a major upset in a conservative Georgia congressional district Tuesday where Democrats stoked by opposition t. "Republicans, get out and vote!" "The current playing field - this handful of special elections - is on a tiny, unrepresentative patch of the country that is far more Republican than the nation as a whole".
Tuesday's tight race took place following a narrower-than-expected victory for the Republicans in Kansas last week, when Ron Estes secured the seat vacated by Mike Pompeo on his appointment by Mr Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. "So of course he has a vested interest in making sure that a Republican holds the seat". That massive influx of cash, coupled with a lack of any other serious Democrats in the race and a disdain among many Republicans in the district for Trump's in-your-face style, made for a surprising opportunity for Democrats in the south - a region where the party has been decimated over the last decade.
I think Republicans need to guard against overconfidence in this race.
"So many pundits and, frankly, activists obsess purely over wins and losses, but I've said from day one that what matters most is the final margin", said David Nir, political director for Daily Kos, a liberal blog that helped first direct attention to Ossoff and raised over $1 million for him.
But their investment was meager compared to the money spent by Republicans and their allies, who poured millions into the race in TV and digital ads.
Man Plunges To Death Trying To Escape Police In Fort Greene
Terrified of being arrested again, Chandler, 21, made a rope of leopard print sheets and attempted a risky escape out of a window. Another person in the apartment was taken into custody in connection with the livery auto robbery.
If Republicans don't push through some parts of Trump's agenda, they'll have very little to show voters next year in their reelection bids. But it will be an uphill climb, as Republicans still outnumber Democrats in the district and the GOP finally has a single candidate the party can rally behind.
With these positions and actions, Handel ultimately ends up looking like nothing more than a political opportunist, desperately searching for where her supporters are going so that she may lead them.
That still wasn't enough for voters like Matt West, 45, a financial planner from Roswell. "But my job.is to be the representative for the people of the 6th District, and that's what I believe regardless of who is the president".
As Secretary of State, Handel pushed a measure that would ensure someone was a citizen before registering to vote.
Democratic leadership invested millions into the race, and several big Hollywood names campaigned on behalf of Ossoff Saturday. It also serves notice that GOP candidates may struggle to handle Trump, who engenders an intense loyalty among his core supporters but alienates many independents and even Republicans.
"To me what's unbelievable is that we continue to see this level shift across the country, a 20-point swing, that puts about 123 Republican seats potentially in play", said Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas.
Information for this article was contributed by Catherine Lucey of The Associated Press.
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