Rubio wins, Scott takes gov's race

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Republican Marco Rubio won an easy victory in Florida's U.S. Senate race and Republican Rick Scott defeated Democrat Alex Sink to win the governor's race.

Sink, Florida's chief financial officer, conceded to Scott Wednesday in Tampa, The Miami Herald said. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Scott's margin of victory was razor-thin, 49 percent to 48 percent.

Rubio, a favorite of the Tea Party, scored a convincing win over Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee, and Gov. Charlie Crist, who ran as an independent after being upset by Rubio in the GOP primary election for the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

He told supporters it would be "a grave mistake if we believe that tonight these results are somehow an embrace of the Republican Party."

"Our nation is headed in the wrong direction, and both parties are to blame," Rubio said. "What Americans are looking for desperately are people that will go to Washington, D.C. and stand up to this agenda that is taking us in the wrong direction and offer a clear and genuine alternative."

Florida was nearly swept by the GOP in the House races. Seventeen of 25 races went to Republican candidates, six to Democrats and one, the 25th District in the Miami-Dade area, was still undecided early Wednesday.