Chris Cuomo and Karen Kahle this month formed Women of Ohio, an anti-Bush 527.

Unlike well-known 527s, such as America Coming Together or Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, they won't be taking their campaign national. But they do plan to place anti-Bush billboards and bus signs around Cincinnati next month.

While 527s have been criticized as a way for rich donors and special interests to evade new restrictions on political donations, the Women of Ohio 527 shows the groups can, in fact, be a way to spread political power among regular citizens.

ON THE WEB

• Women of Ohio • Publicintegrity.org

According to the Center for Public Integrity, which monitors 527s, there are only eight other 527s based in Ohio, none in Cincinnati or Southwest Ohio. Kentucky has only one, based in Lexington.

Cincinnati has been a major source of money for national 527s. Reds owner Carl Lindner, for example, has donated a little over $1 million to GOP 527s, while arts patron Richard Rosenthal has donated $1 million to pro-Kerry ones.

"This whole process of becoming a 527 has actually given me a really good feeling about political process. Everyone can get involved," said Cuomo, 40, a University of Cincinnati professor who lives in Northside.

"Everyone knows how crucial Ohio is," said Kahle, 47, of Walnut Hills, who is between jobs. "We felt confident that we can get the money."

The billboards will read: "Women of Ohio Know this Bad President Has to Go." It will feature Bush's face scratched out by pink crayon.