Mediaboss Marketing

Ad will collapse in seconds CLOSE March 24, 2017 03/24/2017 6:03 p.m. By Ed Kilgore Share Democrat Jon Ossoff isnt just raising eyebrows in the usually-Republican 6th Congressional District of Georgia, hes looking competitive. Photo: Jon Ossoff for Congress

The collapse of Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare was bad news for Donald Trumps HHS secretary, Tom Price, who will have to deal with bitter recriminations between his old friends in the House and his new boss in the White House.

But you know what would make Price feel a whole lot worse? Being replaced in the House by a Democrat.

For the first time, Democratic hopes of picking off this seat, once occupied by Senator Johnny Isakson, and before that by Newt Gingrich, are beginning to look like something more than wishful thinking. With the first round of the jungle primary fast approaching on April 18, Democratic candidate (and former congressional staffer) Jon Ossoff is no longer just an incredibly well-funded neophyte likely to make a runoff against the survivor of an internecine battle between Republicans. Hes now clearly competitive in the runoff as well as the first round.

According to a new survey from Georgia-based Opinion Savvy, Ossoff has the support of 40 percent of likely first-round voters, with Republican front-runner Karen Handel at 20 percent; would-be Trump-clone Bob Gray and State Senator Judson Hill at 10 percent; and former state senator Dan Moody at 8 percent.

More importantly, Opinion Savvy had these numbers for voters screened for likely participation in a near-certain June runoff: Ossoff leading Handel 42/41; Ossoff leading Gray 44/42; and Ossoff tied with Hill at 44 percent.

The 30-year-old Ossoffs strength is largely derived from the reported $3 million he has raised, much of it from national online fundraising, and from his success in consolidating his partys support while the Republican candidates bicker and split the GOP vote. The threat of a Democratic upset in the 6th is strong enough that Paul Ryans leadership PAC has now committed more than $2 million to attack ads on Ossoff (one with footage of him in college dressed up like Hans Solo; another tying him to Nancy Pelosi, not a beloved figure in the 6th).

Ryan, in fact, could be the one national Republican who would be humiliated by a loss in Georgia nearly as much as Price. Neither of them is having much fun at present.

Why Obamacare Defeated Trumpcare

Is Political Gravity Finally Sinking Donald Trump?

Jenny Slate Talks About Her Breakup With Chris Evans

Democrat Jon Ossoff Is Gaining Ground in Georgia Special Election to Replace Tom Price

Republican Leading Russia Investigation Admits Duty and Obligation to Trump

Democrats Celebrate Collapse of Trumpcare by Trolling Trump on Twitter

Did Senator Cory Booker and Mindy Kaling Just Set Up a Real-Life Date Over Twitter?

The Trump Voters Who Dont Deserve Democrats Sympathy

The Fate of a Character Missing From the Love Actually Sequel Isnt So Charming

RuPauls Drag Race Season Premiere Recap: Spring Queening

Most Popular Video On Daily Intelligencer

A new survey shows well-funded Democrat Jon Ossoff ahead of or even with his most likely GOP rivals in a second-round runoff in June.

The investigation into Khalid Masood is moving fast.

The collapse of Trumpcare could be the GOP version of Clintoncare: something none of them will hurry to repeat.

Some solid owns coming from the left side of the aisle this afternoon.

Ryan withdraws the GOPs health-care plan after concluding it cannot pass the House. Trump says he wont try to repeal Obamacare again anytime soon.

The Republican Party could not come up with a better idea.

If no longer nestled in a giant health-care bill, the defunding of the womens health organization could spark an appropriations fight.

The repeal of the ACA is on the verge of collapse.

The Republican House Intelligence chair abruptly canceled an open hearing Friday. The committees ranking Democrat cries foul.

Steve Mnuchin, in a possible ethics violation, also encouraged people to go see Lego Batman, which he produced.

AHCA was more than an Obamacare repealer. It also included provisions on taxes, Planned Parenthood, and Medicaid that GOP will still need to pursue.

Devin Nunes, who worked on the Trump transition, is having trouble letting go of old allegiances.

The president has realized that he doesnt actually need to repeal Obamacare to slash taxes, as Paul Ryan had suggested.

Get to know these phrases: facially legitimate and bona fide reason.

The Trump aide has told associates hes unhappy with the bill and is already distancing himself from it.

This week in Trumps America: The president is flailing. But how he will respond to his setbacks is far from certain.

Its not clear what House Republicans will do.

State Department likely to give the okay by the end of the week.

Ethics experts will not be pleased with this decision.

After a final offer to House conservatives failed, Trump and Ryan may be back to square one with a divided GOP and no clear path forward.

View post:
Democrat Gaining Ground in Georgia Special Election - New York Magazine