Independent Candidate Opposed To Abortion Rights 'Stirring Up' Tight U.S. House Race, AP/Chicago Tribune

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 16 Sep 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Don Elijah Eckhart, an evangelical Christian and independent running for the seat being vacated by Deborah Pryce in Ohio's 15th congressional district, is "stirring up" the election, in part because he believes his candidacy could attract abortion-rights opponents who dislike other candidates' support of abortion rights, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports. Eckhart has been endorsed by Ohio Right to Life and was the first candidate in the race to run a radio advertisement that focused on Christian values.

Both the Democratic candidate, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, and the Republican candidate, state Sen. Steve Stivers, support abortion rights. Eckhart -- who has budget experience at the city, county and state levels -- said he is not an independent candidate who is in the race to make a statement or promote a pet cause. "If an independent could ever win in some race, I think it's this one," Eckhart said.

According to the AP/Tribune, it is not clear whether Kilroy or Stivers will be more negatively impacted by Eckhart's candidacy and whether Eckhart will have the vote-getting potential to swing the outcome in this tight race. Brad Bauman, campaign spokesperson for Kilroy said, "Don Elijah Eckhart is a principled man, a committed Christian and a committed activist." The AP/Tribune reports that the "Kilroy campaign's optimism could stem from the fact that Eckhart's candidacy could fall hardest" on Stivers, who "comes from a party whose base is heavy" on abortion-rights opponents (Carr Smyth, AP/Chicago Tribune, 9/11).

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