COVINGTON — In the summer, few people outside political circles paid much attention when a little-known Republican named Geoff Davis informally announced he would run for Congress in 2002 against Rep. Ken Lucas, a Democrat.

        But one of those watching Mr. Davis closely even then was Bob Doyle.

        Mr. Doyle, the head of a political consulting firm in Washington, is the top campaign and fund-raising strategist for Mr. Lucas.

        Even when some of the region's most active Republicans had little idea who Mr. Davis was, Mr. Doyle continually told area Democrats and reporters he and the entire Lucas camp was taking the challenge seriously.

        Last week showed why Mr. Doyle has been giving Mr. Davis' campaign credibility.

        The release of campaign finance reports showed that during the last half of 2001 Mr. Davis raised more money than Mr. Lucas, $180,879 to $170,591.

        Mr. Davis displayed the type of political and initial financial strength that he will need to run a viable race against Mr. Lucas, a two-term Northern Kentucky native running in what is mostly a Republican-leaning congressional district.

        Even though Mr. Lucas still had more cash on hand than Mr. Davis — $400,507 to $174,614 — the fund-raising tallies energized Republicans while causing some nervous moments in the Lucas camp.

        Among those impressed with the money was U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Southgate Republican who held the 4th District seat for six terms before winning election to the Senate in 1998.

        “I've visited with Geoff Davis twice ... and told him what I think it will take to win,” Mr. Bunning said. “He needs to raise $750,000 to be competitive, and he looks like he's off to a good start.”

        Even Mr. Doyle gives Mr. Davis credit for the amount of money he has raised.

        “I thought he did a good job,” Mr. Doyle said Monday. “He picked a lot of the low-hanging Republican fruit in the district, and I give him credit for that.

        “But I suspect raising the next bit of money is going to be tougher for Geoff Davis,” Mr. Doyle said.

        “We've said all along we're taking (Mr. Davis) seriously, and we're asking our supporters not to take him for granted,” Mr. Doyle said.

        Republicans have also revealed part of their strategy to run against Mr. Lucas — who, even though a Democrat, often supports President Bush and the GOP agenda in Congress.

        The GOP will attempt to couch Mr. Lucas as a lukewarm supporter of Republican policies — and stress that by having Mr. Davis in Congress, Mr. Bush won't have to worry about lobbying for his vote.

        “I'm here because we need Geoff Davis with us in Congress so we don't have to beg and plead” with Mr. Lucas, Rep. Anne Northup, a Louisville Republican, said last week during a party fund-raiser for Mr. Davis in Covington.

        “I'm tired of doing that and I'm especially tired of doing it to a representative that casts himself ... as somebody that believes the same things we do,” Mrs. Northup said. “If you believe the same things we do, then get off (House Democratic leader) Dick Gephardt's team.”

        During the fund-raiser, Mr. Davis told the crowd of about 75 that if elected he is “going to vote the right way and do the right things.”

        “Congressman Geoff Davis will not have to be patronized or wooed or cajoled by the president of the United States using his precious time to get the congressman to vote for the things that the people of this district want and demand,” Mr. Davis said.

        But Mr. Doyle said voters of the 4th District want independence from their congressman, not partisan politics.

        “The voters of the 4th District will not respond to that kind of partisan message,” Mr. Doyle said. “Ken Lucas has and will make independent decisions. He'll support the president when he's right and oppose him when he's wrong.”

        Lucas supporters also point out they haven't really started campaigning against Mr. Davis, 42, a Boone County resident and the owner of a business consulting firm who has never held or run for office and who moved to Northern Kentucky 13 years ago.

        “We haven't even had a candidate until now, so in a lot of ways this race is really just beginning,” said Christina Gilgor, Northern Kentucky fund-raiser for the Lucas campaign.

        “We're going to throw everything we have at him,” Mr. Doyle added.

        Republicans say they can sustain Mr. Davis' momentum by receiving help from the GOP's national political and fund-raising apparatus.

        Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is scheduled to visit Northern Kentucky on Feb. 25 to campaign and raise money for Mr. Davis.

        “This will be one of the most heavily targeted races in the country this year” by the Republicans, said Kentucky GOP vice chairman Damon Thayer. “By electing Geoff Davis ... we have a chance to send an entire delegation of Republicans to Congress from Kentucky.”

        Mr. Bunning said unity among Northern Kentucky Republicans will be the key to Mr. Davis' victory. He said the GOP did not fully line up behind Mr. Lucas' last challengers for differing reasons: Don Bell in 2000, because he did not pose a credible challenge and could not raise money; and Gex “Jay” Williams in 1998 because his divisive brand of politics split the party and sent moderates to Mr. Lucas.

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