“Bellwether election, indeed. In a CQ Politics article about the just-concluded 2007 election, concluding that it provides “no clear signal” as to the parties’ standing going into 2008, author Bob Benenson makes this comment about the special election in the 5th Ohio Congressional District:
“The next harbinger of the parties’ state of play may come in the Dec. 11 special election to fill a vacant House seat in Ohio’s 5th District. Democrats are hoping that a brutally negative fight for the Republican nomination, won narrowly by state Rep. Robert Latta over state Sen. Steve Buehrer, will open a window of opportunity for Democratic nominee Robin Weirauch in a largely rural northwestern Ohio district that normally is a Republican stronghold. Republicans say, though, that the party’s internal wounds will quickly heal and that they will prevail with ease in the race to succeed the late Republican Rep. Paul E. Gillmor, who died in early September of injuries suffered in a fall.
“This means, it is time to make a statement. It is time to pull out all the stops. It is time, in short, for the party and for office holders to put resources into the 5th District race.
“There are a number of prominent Ohio Democratic incumbents who are sitting on large war chests that they don’t really need for their own re-election. Now is the time to invest some of that capital. We need a strong showing going into 2008, and hopefully a victory. It won’t happen without an infusion of cash and other support.”
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You have to create a buzz and appeal, you have made no case for either.