BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent $400,000 on TV ads to convince southern Ohio voters that Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister should replace Ted Strickland in the 6th District.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's response so far: zero.
The seat has changed hands every election since 1990. The past two races for the 14-county district from Marietta to Warren County were decided by fewer than 6,100 votes.
Mr. Strickland said he isn't worried that the Republican committee is dumping money into the campaign . . . yet. "Talk to me in two weeks." GOP spending "makes me feel like they want my seat very badly, and they must consider me a pretty strong candidate," Mr. Strickland said. He speculated that the TV ads are the first wave. "If they're willing to spend $3 million, they may beat me. . . . Still, I don't think so."
The Democratic committee isn't saying whether it intends to spend any of its $5 million in his district. "We plan to carefully target our resources to the races where it will actually make a difference," Olivia Morgan, spokeswoman for the Democratic committee, said. "It's no secret the Republicans have a bigger bankroll than we do."
Ms. Morgan said the Republican initiative suggests Republicans "are trying to bridge a gap that all the money in the world won't bridge."
Republicans say the ads are to shore up support for Mrs. Hollister and give her the edge in the close race.
The 6th District is the only area in Ohio where the Republican committee has spent any money for advertising.
"We view Ted Strickland as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents anywhere in the country," Republican committee spokesman Todd Harris said. "We're going to do what it takes to make sure when the 106th Congress is sworn in next year, that Nancy Hollister is among them."
In such close districts, like Ohio's 6th, a few demoralized Democratic voters staying home could mean a Republican victory. GOP spending in the 6th District is part of a national plan dubbed "Operation Breakout" to spend $37 million in campaigns this fall for issues and candidates.
