DAVID SKOLNICK \ Politics 6th District Congressional race is up in the air

The political fortune-tellers in Washington, D.C., still see Ohio's 6th Congressional District race as a "toss-up," the only U.S. House seat in the nation currently held by a Democrat with that designation.
In listings released during the last week, the Cook Report and Roll Call categorize the 6th District as a toss-up. The Rothenberg Report also lists the 6th District race as a toss up with a tilt toward the Democrat.
Overall, the three list only 11 to 13 U.S. House races as being too close to call at this time.
Also, Congressional Quarterly has the 6th District race listed with "no clear favorite," the only U.S. House seat held by a Democrat listed in that category.
The seat is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lisbon Democrat, who is his party's gubernatorial nominee.
The 12-county, 350-mile district starts in Mahoning County's suburbs and rural communities and all of Columbiana County and follows the Ohio River to Lucasville in Scioto County.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has repeatedly cited the 6th District as its No. 1 priority when it comes to grabbing an open seat currently held by a Democrat.
The NRCC poured more than $500,000 into attacking state Sen. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, primarily through television commercials that questioned his integrity, before the May 2 primary as a warning shot of things to come in the fall.
In response, Wilson and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent more than $1 million on TV and radio ads and mailings to those living in the 6th District in the weeks leading up to the May 2 primary.
Some 6th District Democrats received two mailings a day for two weeks urging them to support Wilson and showing voters how to write in the candidate's name on the primary ballot.
Wilson had to run as a write-in after failing to get the needed signatures on nominating petitions to get his name on the ballot. Although he ran against two political lightweights, Wilson received about two-thirds of the Democratic primary vote, an impressive achievement for a write-in candidate running in a 12-county race.
Both sides have shown a willingness to win this race at all costs. If this race continues to be seen as a toss-up, it wouldn't be surprising to see $10 million spent on this campaign.
State Rep. Chuck Blasdel of East Liverpool, who won the Republican primary with 49 percent of the vote, is actively raising money for the November election showdown with Wilson.
Blasdel doesn't have anywhere near Wilson's personal wealth, but because he's in a toss-up race, Republicans are steering money to his campaign.
For example, Blasdel will attend a June 12 fundraiser in Chicago to raise money for himself and 10 other Republicans running for the U.S. House. The 11 Republicans are members of Midwest ROMP [Retain Our Majority Program], a joint political fundraising committee.
The ROMP's campaign treasurer is Lisa R. Lisker of Huckaby, Davis and Lisker, a prominent Republican accounting firm in Alexandria, Va. The event is expected to raise about $100,000 and will feature the leaders of the U.S. House including Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader John Boehner.
"This is a very clear signal that this is a top targeted race for national Republicans and they're putting their full support behind Chuck," said Jessica Towhey, Blasdel's campaign spokesman.
Wilson is raising money when he isn't doing state Senate business, said Jason Burke, his campaign manager.
After an expensive primary -- that should have been avoided if Wilson made sure to get enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions -- the Democrat is easing his way into the campaign fundraising mode while Blasdel is currently more aggressive on that end.
While Blasdel will receive financial benefits few first-time congressional candidates enjoy, he will need them because Wilson showed in the primary that money is not a problem when it comes to ensuring victory.