Miami lawmaker launches congressional bid

[Freddie Stubbs]

Seeing a chance for his party to pick up a seat in Congress, Democratic state Rep. Luis Garcia launched his campaign Wednesday to challenge U.S. Rep. David Rivera, a Republican.

Garcia, a retired Miami Beach fire chief and former city commissioner, told several dozen supporters at Tamiami Park in West Miami-Dade that he is running to help the middle class in Florida’s 25th Congressional District, where he said he lived for 31 years until 1999.

Garcia spoke from a podium under a festive arch of red, white and blue balloons, but he struck a somber tone during his 20-minute speech — a departure from typical campaign inaugurations.

“This was a successful, middle-class district,” he said. But now, Garcia argued, “that American Dream has disappeared. The American family has been under attack. The middle class has been under attack.”


more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/20/2322653/miami-lawmaker-launches-congressional.html

[SteppingRazor]

1. That's a weird move.

Why not run in his current district against Ileana Ros-Lehtinen? It's slightly more Democratic than the 25th. The only reason I can think of to run in the 25th is that Rivera is a freshman Rep. But after the GOP wins there in 2006, 2008 and 2010, I just don't see how a Democrat wins that district.

[mh74562]

2. I agree

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Rivera is in big trouble due to ethics issues and

Ros-Lehtinen is very popular, even among many Democrats.