The Eye

Schmidt has always faced competitive primaries and general elections in Ohio's 2nd, where she was narrowly elected in a August 2005 special election to succeed Republican Rep. Rob Portman. She had a rocky beginning to her tenure, in part for comments on the House floor that appeared to question the patriotism of Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha.

In 2006, Schmidt beat former Rep. Bob McEwen in the primary by 5 percentage points, then edged Democratic physician Victoria Wulsin by 1 percentage point in the general election.

In 2008, Schmidt beat back a primary challenge from state Rep. Tom Brinkman, then won a rematch against Wulsin, albeit with just 45 percent of the vote in a three-way contest in which Wulsin took 37 percent and independent candidate David Krikorian won 18 percent.

Krikorian is running again in 2010, this time as a Democrat, though party officials have been promoting the candidacy of state Rep. Todd Book.

Like Schmidt, Kilburn has been seriously challenged in Republican primaries. He was nearly defeated for renomination in the 2006 primary.

CQ Politics at the moment rates the Ohio 2 general election race as Leans Republican.

To follow the 2010 House races, check out the CQ Politics election map

UPDATE: Kilburn spoke with CQ Politics on Monday afternoon and emphasized restraint in federal spending. He said that Schmidt "doesn't really have the most conservative spending record," pointing to her vote for a $700 billion program to stabilize the financial markets.

"You've got to be able to say no. Government can't be all things to all people," he said. "The Republicans kind of lost their way -- they thought that they would curry favor with their voters and their constituents if they could bring something back home for them."

"The only way that we can get back on track in this country," Kilburn said, "is to go back to a conservative model of government and elect people that are for less government, not more government, and people who are actually going to do what they say and talk pretty straight."

Barry Bennett, Schmidt's chief of staff, told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "He's more than welcome, it's a free country. I don't think he's going to do very well, but he's welcome to run. He's been quite a character these last few months."