By Mike Glover

Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell expressed confidence Friday that he can defeat Republican Congressman Tom Latham in Iowa's newly drawn 3rd District.

Speaking on the public television program "Iowa Press," Boswell noted he has represented about 70 percent of the district at one point during his legislative and congressional tenure.

"That rural area out there, they know me. I come from there," Boswell said.

The new district includes Des Moines and 15 other counties in central and southwest Iowa. Boswell says he's accustomed to running in districts where nominees from either party have a chance of winning.

Boswell said he has represented nine of the 16 counties in the district, Boswell said he has done well in them because he understands the language of agriculture.

"It's always been a swing district," he said. "It's the definition of a swing district."

There are more registered Democrats than Republicans in the new district, but both are outnumbered by independent voters.

Latham has represented the 4th District since 1995 but opted to move to the 3rd District after redistricting tossed him into a district with Republican Rep. Steve King.

James Carstensen, a spokesman for Latham, said it's too soon to talk about the November 2012 election. When he announced he'd move to the 3rd District, Carstensen noted Latham opted to hold off campaigning for a while.

"As the congressman said in his letter, there will be plenty of time for campaigning," Carstensen said. "He's worried about issues facing the country more than an election 18 months away."

Boswell was originally elected from southern Iowa, but he moved to Des Moines after redistricting 10 years ago. He was a Davis County farmer before being elected to the state Legislature, and he said that background works well in the new district.

During the taping, Boswell said it's likely that President Barack Obama will campaign in the state during next year's election cycle, and he welcomes it.

"I think he'll come out and campaign for himself," Boswell said. "We'll have something possibly to go with it. If there's an opportunity to work together, we probably will."

While Obama's standing in the polls has dipped, he has strong ties to the state dating back to his win in the state's leadoff caucuses, which gave him momentum toward the presidential nomination.

Boswell said there are already early signs that Obama is beginning to build a campaign organization in Iowa. Boswell said that could be helpful to Democrats across the ballot.

Strategists view the looming 3rd District congressional race as one of the most competitive -- and expensive -- congressional races in the country, and those races generally end up being hard-hitting and negative.

Boswell pointed to his first campaign 15 years ago where he defeated Republican Michael Mahaffey in a race that was noted for its civility. He said that can be matched by next year's campaign, where he said the debate can focus on differences between the two candidates.

"Maybe I'm the eternal optimist," said Boswell.