Looks like we got our wish. The Dems in Washington urged him to run.
http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=3932333&nav=Ls19Lsgn
Hackett to challenge DeWine for Senate
WASHINGTON -- Paul Hackett, the Iraq War veteran from Cincinnati who was hailed by national Democrats for his narrow loss this summer in a heavily Republican House district, has quickly moved up in rank to challenge Mike DeWine for U.S. Senate in 2006.
"Paul Hackett is running for U.S. Senate," said spokesman David Woodruff, who served as Hackett's campaign manager in his special election campaign for the 2nd District House seat against Rep. Jean Schmidt.
"He is planning to announce his decision officially on Oct. 24," Woodruff said Monday, adding an event would be held that day in Cincinnati, from which Hackett would begin a statewide bus tour.
Hackett was flying back Monday evening from Washington after meeting with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Woodruff said. Reid's spokeswoman, Tessa Hefen, would not confirm the meeting too place, but Woodruff later said Reid gave Hackett the confidence to run.
"He found overwhelming support from the leaders of the Democratic Party, campaign organizations and staff," Woodruff said.
Hackett drew national attention by earning 48 percent of the vote Aug. 2 in the 2nd District, which voted 64 percent for President Bush last year. Schmidt and other Republicans have said that a summertime special election shouldn't be considered as a bellwether.