A key freshman House Democrat, Zack Space of Ohio, is now facing a much better playing field for his re-election campaign than many people would have expected a year ago. The latest fundraising numbers show Space with almost $1 million on hand, compared to only $36,000 for his low-profile opponent, former state agriculture director Fred Dailey.

The district voted 57%-42% for President Bush in 2004, and went Democratic in 2006 due in large part to the spectacle of GOP Rep. Bob Ney's corruption, resignation and replacement on the ballot by an unpopular candidate.

But with the GOP's finances in overall disarray -- Dailey apparently wasn't able to raise much money after he won the nomination -- Space may very well be on his way to re-election unless the Republicans can get their act together. CQ has changed their rating from "Leans Democratic" to the much more solid "Democrat Favored."