Charlie Cook: Another Florida Congressional District 'Leans GOP'

Confirming what a Sunshine State News Poll found two weeks ago, the Cook Political Report shifted Florida's 2nd Congressional District from "toss-up" to "lean Republican."

That's probably an understatement at this point, as Republican Steve Southerland is handily outpolling Rep. Allen Boyd. Southerland's margin over the six-term incumbent in the North Florida/Panhandle district was 50-38 in the Oct. 14-17, and nothing in the race's dynamics has changed since then.

If anything, the trends have only gotten worse for "Blue Dogs" like Boyd. Though touting themselves as fiscal watchdogs, Boyd and his ilk are now perceived more as lapdogs for the Obama administration -- and the president is increasingly unpopular in these parts.