Democracy Corps Targets Three Races in the Sunshine State

Democracy Corps, a firm associated with legendary Democratic political operative James Carville, has released a new poll looking at the 50 most competitive congressional races in 2012. Of those 50 races, only three are taking place in Florida. Democracy Corps places the seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West in the most competitive tier, and those held by Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Young and U.S. Rep. Dan Webster in a lower tier.

Its a surprising list, at least as far as Florida is concerned, to say the least. Two other Republicans -- Sandy Adams and Steve Southerland -- joined West and Webster in defeating Democratic incumbents back in 2010. Democrats have also argued that freshman Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera will be vulnerable in 2012.

As for Young, the dean of Republicans in the U.S. House, he faced a top tier challenger in 2010. Young took 66 percent of the vote, utterly routing then-state-Sen. Charlie Justice. Granted Young, who is 80, may well retire but he seems fairly secure.

Now of course this could all change with redistricting in 2012. But with no Democrat emerging -- yet -- to take on Webster, knocking off West may be their best -- and perhaps only -- hope to pick off a Republican in the Sunshine State.