Next Tuesday's GOP primary will set the stage for the March 11 special election to replace the late GOP Rep. Bill Young, and although there hasn't been any reliable polling in the heated race between former Young aide David Jolly and state Rep. Kathleen Peters, strategists on both sides are behaving as if Jolly will earn the right to face Democratic former state CFO Alex Sink in two months. On paper, Peters seems like the stronger GOP candidate to face Sink. First, more than a few Republicans admit nominating a woman would be helpful against a female Democrat. Second, Jolly's lobbying career in DC could complicate Republicans' efforts to attack Sink as a carpetbagger from the Tampa suburbs, whereas Peters, who is in her first term as a state legislator, is firmly rooted in Pinellas County, home to the entire 13th CD.However, it's not clear local Republicans have had the time or interest to weigh electability, and Jolly got an early start that Peters may not be able to overcome. On December 13, Pinellas County sent out 77,000 absentee ballots
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