“The Kerry-Obama districts should be at the top of any Democratic target list because they are historically Democratic seats,” said Mark Putnam, one of Obama’s top media consultants during the 2008 campaign who has worked closely with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Those seats should turn Democratic.”

One reason the Kerry-Obama seats are such attractive targets in 2012: Most of the occupants are freshmen, who are typically the most vulnerable members of Congress. Eleven of the 14 districts are represented by first-termers, including Reps. Allen West in south Florida and Sean Duffy in Wisconsin, two of the highest-profile members of the class of 2010…

“There are a bunch of Republicans in districts that are pretty reliably Democratic,” said Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster who is a veteran of House races. “Voters are creatures of habit. Voters in these districts habitually vote Democratic.”

While Democratic officials concede that the yet-to-be completed redistricting process could hinder their efforts — Republican line-drawers will undoubtedly attempt to shore up their GOP colleagues in the Democratic-leaning seats — the 2012 campaign blueprint nevertheless focuses heavily on winning the contests. DCCC Chairman Steve Israel recently traveled to Florida to court potential West challengers and the committee has already unleashed ad, phone and email campaigns targeting some of the Kerry-Obama Republicans.