RNC's McDaniel: Ossoff 'Least Qualified' to Represent Georgia

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Part of what is fueling Democratic excitement about the race is that while Trump won Georgia by six percentage points, the district that Ossoff seeks to win supported Trump by barely one point over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Handel, a former Georgia secretary of state, did not mention Trump during a 10-minute speech on Tuesday night, according to local media.

Democrat Jon Ossoff ended up as the top vote getter in a crowded field of 18 candidates vying to fill a vacant seat in the House of Representatives.

The runoff victor will succeed Republican Tom Price, who resigned to join Trump's administration as health secretary.

Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton previous year, and Republicans have controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress since January.

Republicans avoided embarrassment last week when they narrowly held a conservative Kansas seat vacated when Trump tapped Republican Representative Mike Pompeo to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

Ossoff's campaign was boosted by the support of numerous celebrities, including from Star Trek actor George Takei and anti-Trump talk show host Chelsea Handler, the latter of whom donated to the young Democrat and used her almost 7 million-strong Twitter following to urge Georgia voters to turn out. Republicans had a large slate of candidates in the "jungle primary", including a few who unapologetically supported Trump. And Trump let the world know he played a role - via a robocall and tweets - writing this: "Glad to be of help!" After a better-than-expected balloting in a Kansas special election last week, Democratic leaders said they'll gear up for a special congressional election in Montana.

For Democrats, Ossoff's near win encourages the opposition movement that has flourished since Trump's election.

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Donald Trump will probably help answer that last question if he gives Ossoff voters, donors, and volunteers fresh reason for outrage by gloating over his failure to win a majority in the first round. Before Price held the seat it was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's, who at one point was the only Republican in the state's House delegation.

On Twitter this morning, the president, who may not have read the actual results of the election before commenting, declared yesterday was a "BIG "R" win".

Democrats called the showing a referendum on Trump's presidency.

Networks aired the speech from the 30-year-old Jon Ossoff to his supporters on Tuesday evening, where he acknowledged what CNN would confirm later - he was not going to reach the 50% threshold to avoid a run-off election.

The broader point, whether the president understands this or not, is that Trump's unpopularity has created a backlash that's put red seats in play.

Sanders was then asked if Ossoff is a progressive.

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