Florida 15th News

From the Central Florida Political Pulse-

Democrat Paul Rancatore, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, said this week that he plans to run for Congress next year in a Space Coast seat long held by Rep. Dave Weldon, a seven-term Republican congressman.

Rancatore, who doubles as a commercial pilot, said he brings a strong background on defense and space issues, having worked as an expert in the field of space flight with the military.

"The Space Coast is going to have proven leadership," said Rancatore, who said he was recruited by national and state Democratic leaders to run in the House District 15 seat, which has strong ties to Kennedy Space Center.

In response, a spokesman for Weldon wrote in an e-mail that the congressman -- also a physician -- would decide "very soon" when to announce whether he would run for re-election.


Since being elected in 1994, the socially conservative Weldon easily has defeated a string of opponents, last year besting an under-funded Democrat opponent by a margin of 56 to 44 percent.

2006 was the closest Weldon has come to losing the seat and that was a heavily Democratic year. Unless the Congressman gets involved in some scandal, or the GOP tanks again in 2008, Weldon will coast to re-election.

Linked to- Bright & Early, Carl, Conservative Thoughts, Maggie,