I'm getting on the soapbox...

I don't know how many people have been following this race, but the seat vacated by in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District is having a next Tuesday, August 2nd. Numerous blogs, both regional and national, including , have been covering the election, which has gone from a 30-point Republican cake walk to a .

The Democratic candidate for the spot is , an Iraq war veteran and personal injury lawyer. You can read about Paul's positions on , , , , and .

It's getting down to the wire, so if you would like to help out the campaign, there are two ways: or . I will heading to Hackett campaign headquarters Monday morning and spending two days in scenic Batavia, bringing along my trusty Ford conversion van help canvassers get around, shuttle transportation-lacking people to the polls Tuesday, etc.

The Republicans are pulling out the big money and smear campaign this weekend with a aimed at attacking Paul Hackett. They've tried to him like John Kerry, but the blogs and local media knocked that down. This thing is gonna be won by the "ground game," getting out, knocking on doors, talking to people, and countering the smear campaign.

Keep in mind, Paul Hackett and the Democrats should be getting crushed in this district by at least 40 points, and the Republicans own polling has the lead at only five. Make no mistake, the Ohio GOP is vulnerable, and the national party leaders know this, which is why they're dumping so much cash into a supposed "safe" district. It's only one race, but it's the start of something bigger, both for the state and the nation.

I'm off the soapbox.

I'd like to raise some money to send Mr. Hackett to an Econ Class...

My from the Hackett campaign.

And . Results coming in, it's gonna be close.

Schmidt "," but there is for 2006.