CINCINNATI – In one of the most fiercely and bitterly contested Republican races in years, incumbent Jean Schmidt held off fellow conservative Christian rival Bob McEwen in the Ohio GOP 2nd District Primary.

   Schmidt, the Clermont County Republican, will now face off against Democrat challenger Victoria Wulsin in the fall general election.

   With all precincts reporting it was soon apparent that Miamitown native Schmidt had narrowly withstood the challenge from Anderson resident McEwen. Schmidt captured 48% of the vote to McEwen’s 42%. 33,314 votes were cast for Schmidt to 29,611 for McEwen

   The contest was a rematch of last June’s Special Primary Election in which Schmidt defeated a field of 11contenders led by McEwen to win the right to run for Rob Portman’s vacated seat. Portman had been appointed to a Cabinet position in the Bush administration as U.S. Trade Representative.

   Then in a surprisingly competitive August race that became the focal point of national political attention, Republican Schmidt narrowly defeated upstart Democrat maverick Paul Hackett 52%-48% to win the congressional seat in Ohio’s 2nd District.

   With the May 2nd vote Schmidt was seeking to win the right to challenge a Democratic opponent in November in hopes of returning to Congress for a second term. McEwen meanwhile was seeking a return to Washington where he represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives for six terms in the 1980’s and 90’s.

   The campaign between the two conservative Republicans was especially heated and threatened to turn ugly during the final days of the race as both candidates traded barbs and innuendos attacking the other’s honesty, integrity and competence to serve.

   McEwen captured Brown, Adams and Pike counties, but by smaller than expected margins. However results were not yet in from Hamilton and Clermont counties, both Schmidt strongholds.

   The geographically diverse 2nd District – which encompasses seven counties and stretches from the suburbs of Hamilton and Warren County east along the Ohio River to Portsmouth – has long been a conservative stronghold and is seen as a highly patriotic area. It includes all of Adams, Brown, Pike, and Clermont counties and parts of Hamilton, Scioto and Warren counties. Many of the District’s citizens enlisted in the Military following the terrorist attack on U.S. soil by Islamic radicals Sept. 11, 2001.

   Shortly before 11:30 p.m. McEwen conceded the race, telling his supporters gathered at the Beechmont Ave. New England Club, “Tonight the voters of the Republican Party have made their choice.” After congratulating his opponent McEwen said, "I must admit that I am somewhat surprised and significantly disappointed" by the result.

   Prior to the Election an April 20th poll of 543 likely Republican 2nd District voters conducted by Survey USA had shown Schmidt holding a 23-percentage point lead over McEwen 56%-33%. However a Zogby Poll commissioned two weeks earlier by the McEwen campaign had the race much tighter, 35%-33% in Schmidt’s favor.

   By 12:30 a.m. Schmidt’s lead had pushed out to an almost 4,000 vote margin.

   McEwen had the backing of several national Christian organizations such as Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, American Family Association, as well as noted Cincinnati Christians Anthony Munoz and Citizens for Community Values (CCV) leader Phil Burress.

   Many prominent RNC office holders endorsed Schmidt, including President George W. Bush, House Majority Leader and West Chester congressman John Boehner, and Rob Portman. Schmidt enjoyed the support of nearly every local, statewide and national Right to Life group including that of Executive Director of Life Issues Institute and National Right to Life founder Cincinnatian Dr. John C. Wilke.

   McEwen and Schmidt squared off in a final Election Eve debate on 700-WLW radio. Talk show host Bill Cunningham served as moderator for the often testy debate between the two opponents who admittedly have very similar opinions on most social and political issues.

   Both Schmidt and McEwen are conservative Christians who are staunchly pro-Life, view marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman and hold similar positions on a host of other social and political issues, including a get tough stance on immigration reform and the need for increased border security.

   But on the subject of Iraq, McEwen and Schmidt sharply differed on how best to proceed and to what extent the U.S. should continue its involvement.

   Schmidt acknowledged that, “My opponent and I agree on most of the issues.” Where they differed she said was that while McEwen was a Washington insider, “My priorities are here. They always are. They always have been.” Schmidt mentioned she would remain visible throughout the District and accessible to its citizens, “at Reds games, fish fry’s and carnivals….” Schmidt added that, “Washington thinks a whole lot differently than we do here in Main Street, America” and predicted that, “The voters will re-elect me