Steve Chabot

That is a big no-no, but it sure doesn't seem to stop the GOP and an employee of Steve Chabot's staff. All the details over at Daily Kos.

This is rather shocking. Chabot is a staunch conservative, but this looks to be the reasons he is siding with Democrats:

But when foreclosures in his hometown of Cincinnati skyrocketed, Chabot found himself aligned with Democrats - and against his party's leaders, his conservative colleagues and the White House.

I can say firsthand that foreclosures are skyrocketing here in the greater Cincinnati area. Part of my business involves photography of houses that are going on the market. We are starting to see a lot of these homes pop up. Yes it means more work for me, but you can't help but feel bad for the people losing their homes.

I give Chabot credit for wanting to help the common man. Most conservatives won't do that. Instead they choose to help big business.

Welcome Steve Driehaus to the race for OH-01:

Republican Rep. Steve Chabot survived a serious Democratic challenge in the tough political environment of 2006, but it appears he will not get a break from tough competition in the next round. Democratic state Rep. Steve Driehaus, whose potential already is being touted by national party strategists, has taken official steps to organize his anticipated challenge to Chabot in the Cincinnati-based 1st District.

Driehaus, the minority whip in the Republican-controlled Ohio House, formally announced his candidacy Thursday, stating that he filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that will allow him to begin formal fundraising efforts.

[..]

The 1st — which takes in about 80 percent of Cincinnati (which is shared with the 2nd District) and suburbs north and west of the city in Hamilton and Butler counties — has the characteristics of a swing district. Even as Chabot was prevailing in his 2006 election, 1st District voters narrowly favored Democrats Ted Strickland for governor and Sherrod Brown for senator; President Bush edged his 2004 Democratic challenger, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, by just 1 percentage point.

This is close to home for me. I am in OH-08, but right across the street (and I mean literally thanks to gerrymandering), lies OH-01. Once ActBlue adds Driehaus, I will be sure to get him on the IntoxiNation08 page.