Demographics is changing and also Bill Foster has made several mistakes as mayor.  He pushed and backed a building of a new pier that looked like a giant loop that just got voted down in a recall in this election last Tuesday.  I think the locals really wanted something like a boardwalk to enjoy and not worry about impressing the world with a large monument in Tampa Bay for the tourists to take pictures of and walk around.  The project was going to cost the City 50 million dollars and was given the nick name of  "The Sidewalk to No Where."  He also did a big power grab by firing 70 administrators and supervisors, so that 5 city departments are now micro managed by him.  This has hurt city services effectiveness with all the cutbacks.  He wanted to have a fire readiness fee to increase revenue but the city turned it down and voted for a property tax increase because the fire fee was too regressive and unfair.  He simply haven't made many friends with his over the top management style. The next mayor has a lot to clean up after Foster messes. 

I don't know if the Democrats have plans for a big GOTV operation for St. Pete in November.  I do know that they have helped with money.  Foster hasn't gotten much help from the GOP.  He may now that it is sinking in that he is in trouble.  It was a real shock to Florida GOP when Jacksonville's mayor's seat fell into the hands of the Democrats in the last election.  St. Pete and Jacksonville has always been in the hands of Dixiecrats/Jim Crow and GOP after that.  I think this race will get some national attention as it gets closer to October. Romney only got 35% of the vote in St. Pete.  Rick Scott's purge of voters is too late for November's election this year.  I think Holder will nip all that in the bud for 2014.   

There is a court cases that is working it's way through the state and Fed courts about the gerrymandering of State and House districts in the I-4 corridor.  We have a Fair District Law now in the state constitution that was passed several years ago.  This is why we were able to pick up 5 Democrat House seats last November here in Florida.  If the courts side with Democrats that these newly drawn districts don't fall under the Fair District Law, then you will see at least 3 if not 4 more House seats go to Democrats from St. Pete to the Space Coast.  This is holding up recruitment of some Democrats to run in those Republican held seats. Also when Crist announces he is running that will also get some Democrats to run in Republican held districts.