OH-01: Driehaus and Chabot essentially tied for fundraising

Freshman Congressman Steve Driehaus now has three things in common with former Congressman Steve Chabot: both have represented Ohio's 1st Congressional District, and both raised  over $150k and have on hand slightly over $500k.

The August of GOP Angst apparently didn't give either candidate an advantage in campaign fundraising in what is likely going to be the most targeted congressional race in Ohio if not the nation.  Republicans are convinced that but for the hgih African-American turnout in Hamilton County for Obama, Steve Chabot would still be in Congress.  I cannot really find any objective data to suggest they're wrong.

The question remains can Driehaus, a conservative Democrat, is able to straddle the fence.  On the one hand, not do anything that would depress African-American turnout while not doing something that gets the Republican suburban base up in arms.

Ironically, if Driehaus' race is framed as a "national election" in which Driehaus is viewed as nothing more than a proxy for conservative voters' angst over an Obama Administration, he's likely toast.  Nobody expects the African-American community to be as loyal in turnout out for Driehaus as they were for the historical election of President Obama.  And I'm unaware of any visible effort or achievement by the Driehaus campaign to give the African-American community reason to be emotionally vested in his re-elected.

Despite his reputation as being a "Blue Dog" Democrat.  Driehaus supported the stimulus, voted for the cap-and-trade bill, and weathered some of the most brutual town hall meetings back in August.  He's voted with the Democratic position 95% of the time, according to the Washington Post.  His campaign website is gawd awful, especially when compared to Chabot's, who is showing a modern deftness that doesn't fit the popular image of Chabot.  Regardless, Chabot has positioned himself for people to be aware of his comeback effort.

Because the Ohio Tea Party movement is centered around the Greater Cincinnati area, if there's a race where the Tea Party proves to be an asset for the Republicans rather than a liability, it's this race.  Even though the Cook Political Report calls this race less competitive than the Kilroy-Stivers matchup, I disagree.  I actually think this race is leaning towards a Republican takeover because I believe that the likely turnout favors Chabot.