Well, folks, here is our foe:
Jean Schmidt
And this is our candidate:
Paul Hackett
Anywhere but Cincinnati Hackett would have this thing in the bag. But Schmidt's conservative schtick will play well in that part of the state. Still, its going to be hard for Schmidt to sell her NRA cred against an Iraq War vet. Its also going to be hard for her to sound tougher on defense issues.
Then again, remember that didn't stop them from attacking John Kerry. If Schmidt plays dirty it will only confirm that the Republicans were firing a warning shot at the current soldiers when they attacked Kerry's accomplishments. At the same time, it will contradict her "above the fray" image that she sold in order to win this primary--not that this will deter her too much.
Schmidt has some weaknesses amongst Republicans. Anti-tax groups went after her because of her legislative record. And, on the other hand, she is one of the rocket scientists behind the proposed TEL amendment to Ohio's consititution.
I'd be interested to hear more insight from folks on the ground in Cincinnati, but from what I've heard about Hackett, I think this could be a very interesting race and could be a good chance for the Democrats to take one on Republican turf and gain momentum going into the mid-term next year.