DaytonDailyNews.com

"Every so often, I come across a great House race. ... This year, I stumbled across the opposite of that. The contest in Ohio's 2nd District may well be the worst Congressional contest I've ever witnessed."

So wrote Stuart Rothenberg, a noted political analyst, last February in Roll Call, a publication on Capitol Hill in Washington.

He was talking about the race pitting Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Republican, against Democratic challenger Dr. Victoria Wulsin.

The district includes southern Warren County and goes south and southeast from there. It went almost 2-1 for President George W. Bush in 2004.

Wrote Mr. Rothenberg, "If you are a Republican and not under indictment, you shouldn't have a hard time holding the district. Yet (Rep.) Schmidt barely won re-election last time and again is in a fight for political life."

He cites the story about how she called a decorated ex-Marine in Congress a coward, and he cites doubts about her in her own party, as measured by the number of hot primaries she's in.

As for Dr. Wulsin, another veteran of hot primaries suggesting intraparty doubts, he says, "For a candidate running for the third time, Wulsin is, to put it mildly, scattered in her thinking. ... Wulsin ran a TV spot last month in which she pledged, 'As your representative, I will refuse congressional health care until Congress does its job and passes affordable health care for all.' "

But, Mr. Rotherberg continues, "Wulsin is covered under her husband's 'gold-plated' health care plan. When I asked her about this, she talked about the symbolism of her stand and the fact that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) made the same pledge previously."

That isn't the only example he cites.

In truth, Dr. Wulsin — though improving — is not a polished candidate.

That's surely one reason the rematch of the 2006 race has a third entrant. David Krikorian is a businessman running as an Independent. He paints himself as a fiscal conservative (as in Republican), but anti-war. He calls for more regulation of Wall Street. He can discuss a range of issues at least as well as the other candidates, and he has enough money and skills to make himself visible.

Still, the best bet for the district is Dr. Wulsin.

As even Mr. Rothenberg grants, Rep. Wulsin has an impressive pre-political resume. She has been Cincinnati's epidemiologist. She directed a health literacy program in Adams County. She founded an organization to fight AIDS in Africa.

She'd have a learning curve in Congress, but, given that her learning to date includes a Harvard doctorate, she might be up to it.

Philosophically, she's pretty much a mainstream Democrat. She wants better health care for children, especially, and she wants plans for withdrawal from Iraq. In a concession to the conservative nature of the district, she has emphasized working with both parties and has kept her policy suggestions fairly fuzzy.

Rep. Schmidt started her career in the anti-abortion movement. She campaigned as a staunch conservative — criticizing Republican Sen. George Voinovich as too soft, for example — and has served that way. She has not made much of a mark in Congress.

There are times when Independent and Democratic observers must simply accept that a very conservative legislator is a good match for a district. But the fact that Rep. Schmidt has had so much trouble locking down her job suggests that this is not such a time.

In the close election of 2006, the district showed itself to be open to the possibility of a Democrat, to have concerns beyond political philosophy. That independence is a useful message for voters anywhere to deliver, lest they be taken for granted by one party or the other. This is a year to drive the message home.

If Dr. Wulsin wins in 2008, no nonpartisan observer is likely to call the 2010 race in the 2nd District the worst he's seen.

More about David Krikorian

Age: 39

Education: Bachelor's degree, Bentley College; MBA, University of Cincinnati

Personal: Married, three children

Web site: www.krikorianforcongress.com

More about Jean Schmidt

Age: 56

Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Cincinnati

Personal: Married, one child

Web site: www.jeanschmidt.com

More about Victoria Wulsin

Age: 54

Education: Bachelor's degree, Harvard University; medical degree, Case Western Reserve; doctorate in public health, Harvard University

Personal: Married, four children

Web site: www.wulsinforcongress.com