Schmidt beats Hackett for Congress

According to Cincinnati Channel 5, Republican Jean Schmidt has narrowly defeated Democrat Paul Hackett for Ohio’s Second Congressional District. The unofficial vote tally is in at 57,974 to 54,401, a margin of 3,573 votes. The 52 to 48 percent loss is much closer than expected and the Democratic Party considers even a loss at this close a margin to be a good sign for the 2006 mid-term elections.