Cnn
Iraq war vet loses close race in Ohio
Democrat in congressional election blasted Bush policies
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) -- A Republican former state lawmaker claimed a seat in Congress on Tuesday by narrowly defeating an Iraq war veteran who drew national attention to the race with his military service and a series of harsh attacks on President Bush.
With all precincts reporting, Jean Schmidt had 52 percent, or 57,974 votes, compared with Democrat Paul Hackett's 48 percent, or 54,401 votes.
Schmidt's margin of victory amounted to about 3,500 votes out of more than 112,000 cast.
Schmidt, 53, billed herself as an experienced leader more in tune with the Cincinnati-area district.
Hackett, 43, was trying to become the first Iraq war combat veteran in Congress and the first Democrat to win the conservative district in three decades.
Democrats viewed the race as a bellwether for 2006, saying even a strong showing by Hackett in such a heavily GOP district would be a good sign for them in the midterm elections.
Schmidt will replace Republican Rob Portman, who stepped down this year after being named U.S. trade representative by President Bush.
Portman held the seat for 12 years, consistently winning with more than 70 percent of the vote. Bush picked up 64 percent of the vote last year in the district.
In other races Tuesday, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and former Deputy Mayor Freman Hendrix emerged from a 12-candidate mayoral primary in Detroit, Michigan, to advance to the general election.
Hendrix had a huge lead in early returns over Kilpatrick, who was heralded as Detroit's next great hope when he was elected four years ago at age 31.
But his term has been marred by a $300 million budget deficit, scrutiny over his running up huge bills on a city credit card, and the city's lease of a luxury SUV for his family.
In another race in Detroit, Motown legend Martha Reeves is one of 120 City Council candidates vying for 18 spots in the general election.
Reeves, the lead singer of the group Martha and The Vandellas, is best known for hits such as "Dancing in the Street" and "Jimmy Mack."
Showdown over Iraq
In Ohio, political observers had said a strong showing or victory by Hackett would send a powerful message to Republicans gearing up for 2006.
"If he does well, even if he loses, that could indicate that President Bush's foreign policy may not be playing that well in a Republican district," said John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at the University of Akron.
Hackett, a lawyer and Marine reservist who recently completed a seven-month tour in Iraq, drew national attention to the race with his flame-throwing assaults on Bush.
He was especially harsh of the president for his July 2003 "bring 'em on" comment about Iraqi insurgents, saying such talk merely "cheered on the enemy."
"That's the most incredibly stupid comment I've ever heard a president of the United States make," Hackett told USA Today.
Hackett also referred to the president as "a chicken hawk ... a person who advocates war in a cavalier way."
Schmidt consistently supported Bush on the war and says she shares the "moral values" of the district with her opposition to abortion and to gay marriage.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
I believe I hear the sound of spin.
No mention of Hackett's recent commercials where he sounded like a GOP candidate backing Bush in the war on terrorism. (Rush played those ads today.)
Glad to see that enough voters saw through his deception to give the real GOP candidate Jean Schmidt the win!
And then he uses inspiring words from the President in his campaign ads. What a complete loser.