Rivera in; Dems wait on Garcia

All eyes are on Joe Garcia.

Republicans, as expected, got their man in the race to fill Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's (R-Fla.) seat on Thursday, with the entry of state Rep. David Rivera.

Now Democrats are hopeful that Garcia, the 2008 Democratic nominee, will try again and give Democrats a fighting chance at the open seat.

The former Miami-Dade County Democratic chairman was one of three Democrats to challenge the trio of Cuban-American Republicans in South Florida two years ago, and he came the closest, losing just 53-47.

The district went just 50-49 for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), so it's very doable for Democrats.

Diaz-Balart is running for the open seat of his brother, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who is retiring. Mario Diaz-Balart's seat is the more evenly drawn district.

Rivera said Thursday: "I know how to fight government when it’s more interested in getting bigger than performing better. The people in South Florida, and across America, have worked too hard … to deserve anything less."