Election Watch: 10 Southern races to watch

Congressional Quarterly is featuring their list of Congressional races that are up for grabs in the upcoming election. CQ's list shows that a good number of Southern seats, especially those currently held by Republicans, will be hotly contested to the finish.Here's how the House races are breaking down according to CQ:SEATS CURRENTLY HELD BY DEMOCRATSOf the House seats currently held by Democrats, CQ rates the Democratic candidate to be "safe" or "favored" in all of them, except in eight races where the race "leans" Democrat, including three in the South (bold): Colo. 3 -- Salazar Ga. 8 -- Marshall Ga. 12 -- Barrow Iowa 3 -- Boswell Ill. 8 -- Bean Ill. 17 -- Evans* La. 3 -- Melancon Vt. AL -- Sanders*SEATS CURRENTLY HELD BY REPUBLICANSMore striking is the Republican side, where fully 71 seats currently held by the GOP are facing competitive Democratic challenges. Democrat Favored Ariz. 8 -- Kolbe* Leans Democratic Fla. 16 -- vacant* Ind. 8 -- Hostettler N.Y. 26 -- Reynolds Pa. 7 -- Weldon Texas 22 -- vacant* No Clear Favorite Colo. 7 -- Beauprez* Conn. 4 -- Shays Fla. 22 -- Shaw Ill. 6 -- Hyde* Iowa 1 -- Nussle* Ind. 2 -- Chocola Ind. 9 -- Sodrel Minn. 6 -- Kennedy* N.C. 11 -- Taylor N.M. 1 -- Wilson N.Y. 20 -- Sweeney N.Y. 24 -- Boehlert* Ohio 15 -- Pryce Ohio 18 -- Ney* Pa. 6 -- Gerlach Pa. 8 -- Fitzpatrick Pa. 10 -- Sherwood Wash. 8 -- Reichert Wis. 8 -- Green* Leans Republican Ariz. 1 -- Renzi Ariz. 5 -- Hayworth Calif. 11 -- Pombo Colo. 4 -- Musgrave Conn. 2 -- Simmons Conn. 5 -- Johnson Fla. 13 -- Harris* Ky. 4 -- Davis Minn. 1 -- Gutknecht Nev. 2 -- Gibbons* N.H. 2 -- Bass N.J. 7 -- Ferguson N.Y. 19 -- Kelly N.Y. 29 -- Kuhl Ohio 1 -- Chabot Ohio 2 -- Schmidt Pa. 4 -- Hart Va. 2 -- Drake Wyo. AL -- CubinThat makes seven Southern House seats that Democrats have a fighting shot of moving into their column. It's not as much as elsewhere in the country, but I don't think anyone could have anticipated such a prospect even a few months ago.UPDATE: Seven of Hotline's "Top 30 Races" are unfolding in the South. Those races, with their ranking on Hotline:2. Texas-22 -- Open Seat (R)6. Florida-16 -- Open Seat (R)12. North Carolina-11 -- Charles Taylor (R)18. Florida-22 -- Clay Shaw (R)28. Virginia-02 -- Thelma Drake (R)29. Florida-13 -- Open Sear (R)30. Kentucky-04 -- Geoff Davis (R)