"He has refused to come out and debate," says Hardenbrook, 45, a Democrat who drew only 28 percent of the vote in his run against Boehner two years ago.

The Dayton substitute teacher and former health-care worker accepted WHIO-TV's (Channel 7) invitation early last month to debate on Oct. 30. Boehner has not.

"If it's good enough for George Bush and Dick Cheney, what's Boehner got to hide?" Hardenbrook said.

Boehner, 54, a Republican seeking his eighth two-year term, said he hasn't committed to the Dayton TV station because he's still juggling his schedule.

"We get a lot of invitations, and typically we end up at some function with my opponent somewhere along the way. I don't have any issue about debating my opponent," Boehner said.

As he did two years ago, Hardenbrook criticized the incumbent as a Washington insider, out of touch with the district that stretches from West Chester's Union Centre Boulevard along Ohio's western border to Grand Lake St. Mary's in Mercer County.

Boehner denies the charge. He says he's home almost every weekend - although he did make a campaign swing through Georgia and North Carolina last week to help Republican colleagues.

"I spend a lot of time in my district. They know who I am. They know what I think," Boehner said.

And they know that he's friends with the leader of the free world. Twice Boehner has helped bring President Bush to Republican-rich Butler County - to Hamilton High School to sign the "No Child Left Behind" education reform law in 2002, and to a Voice of America Park political rally last month attended by more than 40,000 people.

Asked why he decided to challenge the influential Republican again after his lopsided loss two years ago, Hardenbrook said, "Our system is healthiest when we have competition. We don't build up a strong opposition party when we have an opposition party that sits on our rear ends whimpering."

A big difference from last time, Hardenbrook said, has been the boost he has received from John Kerry's strong Ohio organization, and the likelihood of a huge voter turnout on Nov. 2."It's a positive for everyone in the state, particularly the challengers," he said.

The candidates have disagreed on many major issues, including the war in Iraq, recent tax cuts and education.

Hardenbrook has opposed the war, and the huge budget deficit: "And when did our country ever go to war, and have tax breaks at the same time? That's incredible."

Boehner has supported the war as necessary to provide "safety and stability for our kids and their kids." And for "sustained economic growth," he supports making permanent the tax cuts.

Hardenbrook derisively called Bush's education reforms "No Child Left Fully Funded" and "No Child Left Untested." More emphasis should be put on allocating money to schools, and less on high-stakes achievement tests, he said.

Boehner defended the program, saying student test scores have improved dramatically in large urban school districts. He also said federal spending for schools has increased 50 percent during the Bush administration.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com