Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan likes his re-election chances in a redrawn west coast district that encompasses 96 percent of his current constituents. And why not? They sent him back to Washington with a healthy 10,000-vote margin two years ago.
This year's Democratic challenger, Keith Fitzgerald, sees an opening in the 16th Congressional District that includes the reliable GOP enclaves of Sarasota and Bradenton.
With strong backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the former state representative will "offer a stark contrast," said Fitzgerald campaign spokesman Adam Scott.
Where Buchanan is one of the wealthiest members of the House, Fitzgerald is a New College political science professor who will reach out to "blue blazer Republicans," said DCCC spokeswoman Stephanie Formas.
Fitzgerald has been tabbed one of the Democratic Party's elite "Red to Blue" candidates, who are expected to pick up 25 House seats across the country.
These candidates are going to be aggressively holding Republicans accountable for consistently choosing millionaires over Medicare, oil companies' subsidies over middle-class tax cuts and ideology over solutions, said DCCC Chairman Steve Israel.
In line to receive hefty financial backing from the party and independent sources, Fitzgerald has been a powerful fundraiser in his own right, outpacing Buchanan with $250,000 in his first quarterly report.
Then again, Fitzgerald outspent Ray Pilon in 2010, only to be ousted from his state House seat by the rookie Republican lawmaker.
Buchanan, on the other hand, has won by successively larger margins in his last three elections.
"These are two candidates going in completely different directions," says Joe Gruters, chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Party and Buchanan's treasurer.
"The Democrats are offering a liberal college professor whose goal is to implement the failed policies of [Barack] Obama."
Gruters suggested that the DCCC wants to keep the spotlight on Buchanan, who is finance chair of the Republican National Congressional Committee and has a coveted seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
"They want to make him uncomfortable with a lot of recycled garbage," Gruters said of lingering ethics complaints hanging over Buchanan.
Dating back to 2006, the complaints revolve around alleged campaign accounting irregularities. Complaints brought to the Federal Election Commission were dismissed on a 5-0 vote and Gruters downplayed other charges as "a completely meritless orchestrated attack."
"Voters can see through that," he said.
While the DCCC targets CD 16, national Republicans assert that the district -- which went for John McCain over Obama 51-48 -- "is not competitive for Democrats."
Local Republicans feel the same way in the wake of redistricting.
"We like the fact that the new District 16 is basically the same district Vern has been representing for the past five years, said Kathy King, chairwoman of the Manatee County GOP.
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
