We New Yorkers, with our penchant for self-absorbed navel-gazing, may not like it, but right now, the only race in the country that truly matters is that in the second Congressional district of Ohio. The critical issue here is not just that this race represents a real chance to pick up another House seat and wittle down the razor-thin repug majority. Rather, the benefits that could accrue to Democrats if our candidate, Paul Hackett, wins over his brittle, corrupt opponent, are legion.
First, if you've somehow missed the firestorm in the blogosphere over this race, the basics: OH-2's former representative got kicked up to a cabinet position, leaving the seat free and thereby triggering a special election. Normally, because this district is so dark red, Democrats would only have put up a token challenge. This time around, however, with Bush's poll ratings tanking, his legislative agenda stalled and deeply unpopular, things are different.
We're also in the fortunate position of having a really good candidate, Paul Hackett [1], a former marine who was in Fallujah until four months ago. His opponent, web site [2] and make a donation or volunteer, pronto; the NRCC 
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