Posted: 03/12/2014 at 11:11am | IP Logged

Florida Election Victory a Referendum on Obamacare?

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Source: CBN News

A special election victory Tuesday has Republicans celebrating a winning strategy: Florida voters chose an opponent of Obamacare to be their new congressman.

The result is a warning sign to Democrats: President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act is likely to be the top issue of the 2014 congressional campaign.

Political experts say the Florida special election was really a referendum on Obamacare.

Congressman-elect David Jolly made repealing the law a centerpiece of his Florida District 13 congressional campaign. When all the votes were counted Tuesday night, the Republican was declared the winner.

"Your concerns are my concerns, and I pledge everyday to work for you and with you," Jolly told his supporters.

He campaigned to either make drastic changes to the Affordable Care Act or to fight to scrap it and begin again. A majority of likely American voters oppose the law: 56 percent view it unfavorably, according to a recent Rasmussen poll.

There are also fewer signups than expected -- only 4.2 million by the end of February. That number falls nearly 1.5 million short of President Obama's goal. And it's unlikely that a projected 6 million will sign up by the March 31 deadline.

One of the biggest signup shortfalls comes with young adults. Only 25 percent of enrollees were between the ages of 18 and 34. The administration says 40 percent are needed to help offset the cost for older and less healthy enrollees.

While visiting Georgia, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urged young Americans to sign up.

"Here in Atlanta, if you're 27 years old and make $25,000 a year, you can find a plan that would cost you $105 a month. My guess is you can't find a pair of running shoes that cost a $105. I know you can't find a cell phone plan for a $105 a month," Sebelius said.

President Obama was also on the stump for his signature health care law. Comedic Actor Gus Galafianakis questioned the president on the show "Funny or Die." Watch the entire clip below.

Galafianakis: Okay, let's get this out of the way. What did you come here to plug?
Obama: First of all, I think it's fair to say I wouldn't be with you here today if I didn't have something to plug. Have you heard of the Affordable Care Act?
Galafianakis: Yeah, that's the thing that doesn't work. Why would you get the guy who created the Zune to create your web site?
Obama: Healthcare.gov works great now.

So many experts are asking if the David Jolly victory in Florida is a harbinger for the upcoming congressional election. Is Obamacare the issue that will help Republicans retake the Senate?

Tea Party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz. R-Texas, hinted at that possibility.

"If there's one thing that unifies politicians of both parties, is their top priority, [it] is preserving their own hide," Sen. Cruz told ABC News "This Week." "And if enough congressional Democrats realize they either stand with Obamacare and lose or they listen to the American people and stand a chance of staying in office, that's the one scenario we could do it in 2015. If not, we'll do it in 2017."

Source: CBN News