UPDATE: Status change in Diaz-Balart vs. Martinez; Feeney vs. Kosmas

To Democrats' delight, the Cook Political Report has revised its outlook on the race the Herald bills as the battle of the titans: Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart vs. Raul Martinez. The race is now seen as "likely Republican," as opposed to the "solid Republican" rating it was intially given.

(That's a two on a scale that ranges from solid Republican, likely Republican, leans Republican and toss up)

Democrats believe they have their best shot in years in unseating one of South Florida's three Cuban American Republicans and some analysts suggest Martinez, the former mayor of Hialeah, may have the best opportunity among the three challengers.

Republicans have recently lost three GOP-held House seats in special elections, leading some to project a challenging fall for the GOP in November. David Wasserman, the House editor for Cook, says the change was made because Martinez has shown himself to be an accomplished fundraiser.

"Martinez raised a considerable amount of money and he's in a position to be very financially competitive with Lincoln Diaz-Balart," Wasserman said. Though he notes Diaz-Balart has the advantage of incumbency and represents a "considerably Republican district." And, unlike the recent special election in Mississippi, Wasserman noted, party affiliation will be on the ballot.

Cook also changed the rating on a Central Florida seat, downgrading Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, from "likely Republican" to "leans Republican." His opponent, former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, already has more campaign cash on hand than the incumbent.

Comments

[Cynical Idealist]

Kosmas won't win that seat....there's too many skeletons in her closet for her to be casting stones at Feeney.

[Cynical Idealist]

Kosmas won't win that seat....there's too many skeletons in her closet for her to be casting stones at Feeney.

[lakes305]

It figures that an outsider like this Cook guy would be surprised that Martinez can raise $. That guy has a lot of favors to cash in, not to mention all the left over $ from that quid-pro-quo deal from years back.What a disgrace.