Tea party favorite Allen West loses Florida congressional seat after running one of the most expensive and nastiest campaigns

By Snejana Farberov

PUBLISHED: 03:09 EST, 7 November 2012 | UPDATED: 06:23 EST, 7 November 2012


Republican congressman from Florida Allen West last night lost his re-election bid to Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy in one of the closest and most brutal races in the nation.

Despite out-raising Murphy nearly 5-to-1 and running an overwhelmingly negative campaign targeting his opponent, West fell short by about 2,500 votes, with 99 per cent of Florida's 18th District reporting.

‘I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the voters of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches,’ Murphy said in a statement declaring victory.

Murphy
Allen West

Ousted: Newcomer Democrat Patrick Murphy, left, defeated freshman Florida Congressman Allen West, right, who fell short by about 2,500 votes

‘I pledge to be a representative who will work across the aisle, listen to all points of views, and work to end the divisiveness in Congress. Our country faces many challenges, and by working together we will continue to move our country forward.’

West, a freshman member of the U.S. House of Representatives and tea party darling, had not conceded, and it was unclear whether he would request a recount, according to The Hill.

 

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The congressman, known for his vitriolic outbursts targeting his opponents across the aisle - the majority of whom he at one time labeled communists - has been in the Democrats' cross hairs from the outset.

Among his more outrageous comments, West called fellow Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, 'vile' and 'not a lady' ; compared being gay to liking chocolate chip ice cream; and said on two occasions that Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels would 'truly be proud' of the current Democratic Party, the Huffington Post reported.

Platform: West, 51, ran on his military service and his conservative voting record with an emphasis on job creation and deregulation

Platform: West, 51, ran on his military service and his conservative voting record with an emphasis on job creation and deregulation

Fresh-faced newcomer: Murphy, a construction company owner, ran as an antithesis to West

Fresh-faced newcomer: Murphy, a construction company owner, ran as an antithesis to West

As recently as Monday, West publicly accused Democrats of using 'nefarious actions' to put a damper on what he called 'incredible' early voting turnout for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

West, 51, ran on a platform highlighting his military service and his voting record in Congress which included supporting government deregulation, job creation and a proposal to overhaul Medicare as a way to preserve it.

Murphy, a little-known construction company owner, pitched himself to voters as the anti-West, putting a strong emphasis his opponent's radical views.

Brutal battle: Murphy used a caricature of West punching an elderly woman in an ad

Brutal battle: Murphy used a caricature of West punching an elderly woman in an ad

Dirty tricks: West used his opponent's mug shot from an underage drinking incident to draw contrast between himself, an Army veteran, and Murphy

Dirty tricks: West used his opponent's mug shot from an underage drinking incident to draw contrast between himself, an Army veteran, and Murphy

As of mid-October, according to The Palm Beach Post, the race was one of the costliest in the nation, with outside groups and the candidates pouring a collective $23million into the contest.

West raised more than $17million, while Murphy brought in $3.6million.The candidates used their war chests to produce biting, often personal ads targeting one another.

In one, the right-wing congressman used his challenger’s mug shot from an underage drinking incident. On his part, Murphy used a caricature of West punching an elderly woman.





 

 
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Alan west must have forgot that the House UnAmerican Committee was disbanded in the 1960's when he said there were 79 democrats in the house who were communists. Life is too short for these kinds of nuts to be making laws governing us all. Goodbye Mr West let me know what color straight jacket they end up putting you in.

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So glad this self-hating weasel lost. He belongs in a straitjacket!! Another reason for my happy dance today!!!

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@ Brad Allison British paper, we can spell how we want :p

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A nasty end to a Nasty SOB. Good riddance. Don't let the door hit him where good Lord split him.

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"Percent" is one word. Not "per cent."

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He was a good guy, a real patriot

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West's crowd waited all night for him to come out and thank them for their support. He never did, and he refused to talk to the media. Patrick Murphy was there the whole time. He's soft-spoken and smart and seems to sincerely want bipartisanship in Congress. He's only 29-years-old. I think he'll do well. He'll probably work quietly for his district, as Al Franken does in the Senate. Lois Frankel will be a loose cannon. I expect her name to be getting attention in the media. She's a character.

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Cannot.Stop.Smiling.

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Yay another one gone!!!

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TB you keep thinking that way. It worked really well for you last night. Go ahead and let him run so all the mud that's come out of his mouth will be known by the entire world. Yeah good luck with that.

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