While 2010 was a very strong year for Republicans in the state and across the nation, Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown routed her Republican challenger, businessman Mike Yost, taking 63 percent to his 34 percent. With it, she won a tenth term in Congress. Nevertheless, she has already drawn three opponents -- two Republicans and a Libertarian -- looking to knock her off in 2012.

Yost, who defeated two other Republicans in the primary to take on Brown last time, is hitting the ground running as he seeks a rematch in 2012.
Yost noted earlier in the week that he was optimistic about his chances, thinking that Brown’s recent fund-raising struggles could be used to his advantage.

“She is over $45,000 in the hole (and is being sued over that, too!) to start off her 2012 race and … we know a lot of changes will happen for 2012,” claimed Yost.

While Brown opposed the constitutional amendments backed by FairDistricts Florida in 2010 -- scoring points with Republicans in the Legislature -- Yost insisted that redistricting will help a Republican candidate against Brown in 2012.

“This district is not going to be the same as it was in 2010,” insisted Yost.

“The FairDistricts amendments mean that it [the district] can't favor one party over the other, or an incumbent over a challenger,” maintained Yost, adding that the amendments also make districts “compact” which, he insisted, it was not now.

Yost thought that Florida gaining two congressional seats would also hurt Brown.

“Historically, those are drawn in the regions where the most population growth occurred,” mused Yost. “Central Florida is most likely where one will go, and Corrine is going to lose most, if not all, of that part of her current boundaries. Expect this district to move farther north, not be sprawled from Jacksonville to Orlando, just to create a ‘seat’ for Corrine to win in perpetuity.