"It's time for a change," Sanders said. "The Republicans have had their time." But he faces a daunting challenge.

CANDIDATES

Rob Portman Party: Republican Home: Terrace Park. Age: 48. Web site: www.robportman.com. Occupation: U.S. Representative. Political experience: Six terms as U.S. Representative for the 2nd Congressional District. Education: Juris doctorate, University of Michigan. Family: Wife, Jane; three children. Charles Sanders Party: Democrat. Home: Waynesville. Age: 57. Web site: www.charleswsanders.org. Occupation: Personal financial analyst with Primerica. Political experience: Former Waynesville mayor and councilman. Education: Bachelor of science degree in industrial and labor relations from Wilmington College. Family: Wife, Augusta.

ELECTION SECTION

• Election 2004 page

Now in his sixth term in Congress, Portman is one of the GOP's stars and wields influence in Washington. He is chairman of the House Republican leadership and the liaison between the House and the White House.

"We've been able to get a lot of funding for projects on their merits, such as the (National Underground Railroad) Freedom Center," Portman said. "But it helps to have a close relationship with the administration."

Portman, of Terrace Park, trounced Sanders, of Waynesville, in the three previous elections. He has a $2.4 million campaign fund, which he shares with other Republican candidates in difficult races. Sanders has $1,000 in his war chest.

The 2nd Congressional district extends from downtown Cincinnati to Portsmouth. It includes eastern Hamilton County, southern Warren County, western Scioto County and all of Clermont, Brown, Adams and Pike counties.

"I don't have a lot of money to run against Mr. Portman," said Sanders, a former Waynesville mayor who works as a financial analyst. "But I'm just enough of a trooper to believe that if I can run a good grass-roots campaign, I can energize my district."

The two candidates' differences extend far beyond their campaign funding.

The federal tax relief legislation that Portman helped shape is one example of their divergent views. Sanders says the tax-relief measures cater to the wealthy and slight the middle and lower classes, while Portman says it provided tax breaks for all tax-paying Americans and has created more jobs.

Portman makes no apologies for supporting the reduction of taxes for capital gains, dividends and small businesses.

"If we raise taxes on the wealthy, we will be raising the taxes on small businesses that are creating jobs," he said. "Since we put the tax relief measures in place, the economy has grown."

Social Security is another area of disagreement.

Portman favors allowing individuals - within certain limitations - to choose how to invest some of their Society Security money. Sanders says that's too risky.

They also disagree on some of the provisions in the prescription drug legislation. Portman believes in instituting criminal laws prohibiting people from bringing drugs that have not been federally approved from Canada into America. Sanders says it unfairly interferes with Americans' ability to buy drugs at discount rates.

On the war in Iraq, both men agree that the United States should continue working toward Iraqi self-government and shouldn't abruptly withdraw its troops before elections take place.

Sanders says Portman's close relationship with President Bush makes him take inflexible positions on issues and doesn't serve the interests of the 2nd Congressional District.

"He's insensitive to the majority of our citizens," Sanders said.

But Portman says he has publicly disagreed with the White House on certain issues. He cited as an example a type of IRA called a lifetime savings account that he opposed because he didn't think it would help the middle class save money.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com