Davis sat down with The Enquirer Wednesday afternoon less than 24 hours after winning a seat in Congress.

ENQUIRER: You look tired, what time did you get to bed (Tuesday) night?

DAVIS: I went to bed I guess about 2:30 (a.m.), and I got up with the sun. We had a bunch of volunteers that I wanted to go and say goodbye to that were scattered around the area. I certainly had a lot of coffee ... and then had breakfast with my wife (Pat) and went to White Castle for a power lunch.

ENQUIRER: How does it feel to be a congressman?

DAVIS: We won't be there yet until January but we're very humbled by the whole thing, frankly.

ENQUIRER: You started planning your run for office since early 2001; it's been a long road.

DAVIS: I've been running for this for 1,405 days. It's been a good journey.

ENQUIRER: What was the key to winning?

DAVIS: There were several factors. The big difference between this cycle and last cycle was our team became much more proficient at fund-raising. I went to work a lot earlier. I basically started the day after the last campaign ... and had a wonderful team of people and wonderful team of volunteers.

ENQUIRER: What was it about your message that resonated?

DAVIS: There were really three factors. Certainly my experience professionally in manufacturing, working to create jobs. I came from the roots of the people I want to represent in terms of working families. I understand the issues of trying to balance your budget every month. And then, when we look at the national security situation, I think I can make some contributions. In fact (Republican) leadership has already talked to me about those as well. But I think there is an opportunity to be a voice of reason and provide oversight of some of the things that we're facing on the war on terror right now.

ENQUIRER: What was it like running against Nick Clooney? Did you get tired of hearing about his name and his connections to Hollywood through his son, George?

DAVIS: I never really looked at the race in that context. I felt that ultimately the race was going to come down to people making a choice on who they felt had the qualifications and experience to represent them at this time in our history.

ENQUIRER: Did you salivate when you started reading Clooney's old columns and some of his writings on issues important to people in the district, like abortion and gun rights?

DAVIS: I think it is appropriate, certainly. I've been open with the people of the district in what I believe and where I stand on the issues. Certainly, everything that I've done is a matter of public record. It was the same with his professional career. And he wrote very eloquently on a wide range of issues.

ENQUIRER: When did you know you were going to win?

DAVIS: About 7 o'clock (Tuesday) night. I expected it to be closer but (Campaign Manager Justin Brasell) did such a phenomenal job in overseeing the turnout effort and getting these voters to the polls. I think the powerful statement that made it was a 31,000-vote margin. To win by 12 points in an open seat race is almost unprecedented.

ENQUIRER: The volunteer effort was huge.

DAVIS: Justin (Brasell) began building that organization in the 2002 campaign ... that brought us just to the brink of victory. We built off that organization, stayed in touch with them and talked to them. When it became an open seat, it became apparent we were going to be very competitive, so we had several hundred people working.

ENQUIRER: What's next?

DAVIS: We're going to start raising money right away for the next (campaign). Honestly, orientation is on the (Nov.) 15th, but our priority is to be out in the 24 counties. We want to meet with community leaders, judge-executives, magistrates, other folks, regardless of party, talk about how we can help them, what are the needs in their communities, how we can best serve them from a federal perspective.

ENQUIRER: What committees are you going to go for?

DAVIS: (House Speaker Dennis) Hastert talked with me about Financial Services and Transportation and Infrastructure, and also Armed Services specifically for . . . counter-terrorism.

ENQUIRER: You served your country in the military, and now you'll be serving it in Congress. What are your thoughts on your public service?

DAVIS: My wife has told a lot of friends she has not seen the level of passion that I've had for work since I was in the 82nd Airborne Division.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com