Florida's Political Rising Stars for 2012

Florida is usually a closely watched state during election years. With its flamboyant and controversial politicians currently on the rise, 2012 promises to be no exception. The Republicans have the often-outspoken U.S. Rep. Allen West and current Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos. The Democrats have West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel.

Allen West won a tight, contentious 2010 victory over Democrat Ron Klein to represent District 22 in the U.S. House. A former U.S. Army colonel and current Tea Party star, he's gone on to make waves in his first term as the African American Republican who bucks the system.

He's already in trouble with moderates and liberals (but lauded by the Tea Party) for calling down President Obama's ideology that allegedly doesn't label extreme Islamic terrorism what it is, and contradicting Harry Reid for saying the Tea Party won't last. He's on the bad side of conservatives who are already trying to impeach Florida Gov. Rick Scott through several Facebook campaigns, and for siding with Scott on his refusal to accept federal dollars for high-speed rail.

West's website shows him strong on energy, job creation, remaining friends with Israel, and tough on terror ("Liberals in Congress have provided nothing but lip service while the rest of the world continues to condemn this nation's right to defend itself against continued terror").

Klein announced to D.C.'s Roll Call that he won't run against West again, but West will have a new Democratic challenger in Lois Frankel.

Frankel has reached her term limit as West Palm Beach mayor. She's a match for West with her forceful style and a contentious record, having been slammed in her first mayoral term, then cleared, of links to corruption by two of her city commissioners. Frankel boldly challenged the two-term mayor rule by collecting petitions to run a third term. That effort was unsuccessful.

On March 22, she announced to Palm Beach's local news channel 5 that she'll run against West.

Frankel served in Florida's house for 14 years before her successful bid for mayor. Her official mayoral website boasts the six-time house re-election, a landslide re-election as mayor, her rejuvenation of downtown Palm Beach and public safety budget.

Her "Lois Frankel for Congress" site has one page with one headline: "Contribute," and a link for volunteer sign-ups.

An early Viewpoint Florida poll shows West ahead of Frankel, and the poll speculates this could make him a target for the Democratic National Committee.

A third up-and-comer, but with his sight set on the U.S. Senate, is Senate President Mike Haridopolos. He will try for Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's seat. Haridopolos' 2012 campaign website is already up and running, stating on the homepage that he wants to revitalize the economy by "empowering individuals, not governments, and by preserving opportunity for families and innovators, and not power for bureaucrats and politicians."

Haridopolos was first elected to state senate in 2002. He demonstrated leadership by forming a caucus against more state taxes. He most recently made headlines in early March with his statement to Newsmax (still proudly listed on his website) that Washington D.C. is broken and the government is "spending us into oblivion."

Why no Marco Rubio among these Top three rising stars?

Marco Rubio, the surprise winner of the U.S. Senate seat representing Florida over former Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meeks, has been on the GOP wish list to run for president in 2012. But Rubio has repeatedly stated he won't run for president, and confirmed that as recently as this morning to The Hill's Briefing Room.

Rubio states he is happy in the U.S. Senate and wants to continue doing the best job he can for Floridians...in fact, going so far as to say he wants to be the best U.S. senator Florida's ever had.

Now they're asking, how about VP?