WKRC: Foreclosures Become Issue in First Congressional

That foreclosed house down the street from you is becoming an issue in the race for congress, or rather, it's the thousands of foreclosed houses in our area. Democrats think they have their best chance in years to defeat seven-term Republican Steve Chabot in Cincinnati and western Hamilton County.

Local 12 Reporter Jeff Hirsh shows us why the housing issue is taking center stage.

Houses are going from for sale... to foreclosed. A couple of foreclosed homes in Price Hill were recently bought by a non-profit agency, to fix up. But State Representative Steve Driehaus says Congressman Chabot is not doing anything to fix the foreclosure crisis, 3,000 homes in Hamilton County last year. Driehaus, the Democratic candidate, blasted Chabot for voting against a 15-billion dollar foreclosure aid bill, which some other Ohio Republicans, like Deborah Pryce of Columbus, voted for:

State Rep. Steve Driehaus, (D), Congressional Candidate: "Congresswoman Pryce was quoted as saying I don't know how you can be from Ohio and vote against this."

Driehaus brought along a fund-raising heavy hitter, Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel, who organized the Democrats' successful 2006 takeover of congress.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Dem. Congressional Caucus Chair: "We don't need somebody in Washington who's blinded by ideology, which is what has happened to Steve Chabot."

Jeff Hirsh: "The Democrats have thrown some pretty big names against Steve Chabot in the past, unsuccessfully, John Cranley, Roxanne Qualls. But this year the democrats have another big name who they think is really going to help."

"Wow, what a crowd."

Democrats are counting on Barack Obama to attract thousands of new voters.

"We think with the Democratic turnout, along with my ability to attract crossover votes on the west side of Cincinnati, that we have a tremendous opportunity."

In fact, the Cook Political Report, a well-respected independent analyst, has moved the First Congressional District from leans Republican to toss-up. Which means issues surrounding houses, like this, also surround the race for the House of Representatives.

Jeff Hirsh, Local 12.

Congressman Chabot was out of town and unavailable. His campaign manager issued a statement ... saying the housing bill Chabot voted against was actually - quote - a 15-billion dollar bailout to the banks and did nothing to address keeping families in their homes. The campaign says Chabot has led bi-partisan efforts to help home owners, at no taxpayer expense. And Driehaus won't be able to come close to matching our campaign efforts

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