The National Republican Congressional Committee is now spending money — a lot of it, despite their fundraising problems this year — in the special election for what is normally a very safe seat. CQ reports that the NRCC has put in $280,000 on behalf of Republican nominee Bob Latta, who is running for the seat of the late Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH).

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have already put in $150,000 on behalf of Democratic nominee Robin Weirauch, even though the district went for President Bush by 22% in 2004. If the special election on December 11 even turns out to be close, it'll be taken as bad news for the Republicans.