Drama-starved Floridians have two House races to watch as they head into likely recount:

• House District 9, where Democrat Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda had a small advantage over Republican Peter Boulware.
• House District 11, where Democrat Debbie Boyd had a similar leg up on Republican Elizabeth Porter.

No matter the outcome, the House, which had been 77-43 before Tuesday, will remain largely the same. Democrats may have squandered a major opportunity, unable to tap the anti-Republican sentiment that touched so many other contests across the United States.

House Republicans who were considered vulnerable, like Peter Nehr of
Tarpon Springs and Carl Domino of Jupiter, held on last night. Some,
like Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale, posted huge numbers.

Democrats did pick up Gayle Harrell's old seat, HD 81, with an Adam
Fetterman win. And Ds reclaimed HD 10 with a Leonard Bembry win in Will
Kendrick's old seat. But they gave up the Brevard County district that
had been held by Tony Sasso.

So if all holds, it will be a 76-44 House. Democrats note that they
posted gains for a second consecutive cycle and say "dozens" of
competitive districts will open in 2010.

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