Close House race hinges on Pryce's role as GOP leader

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/1150000185324400.xml&storylist=cleveland

6/11/2006, 12:01 a.m. ET
By DAVID HAMMER
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The dual image that helped make Ohioan Deborah Pryce the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress has set up her first significant election challenge in 14 years.

Both national parties are watching her race closely as an indicator of whether House Republicans can keep their 30-seat majority in a toxic environment for the party — fostered by President Bush's low approval ratings, growing concerns about the war in Iraq and ethics scandals involving Republicans in Washington and Columbus.

Pryce long has demonstrated loyalty to the party as well as bipartisan appeal to swing voters in her House district. She says she's confident she's built up enough goodwill to win re-election in the district north and west of Columbus, which is evenly divided among Democrats and Republicans.

But Pryce acknowledges that Democrats and liberal interest groups could sway voters away by emphasizing her often partisan rhetoric as leader of the House Republican caucus...

Have you ever caught any of her one minute speeches? Now she is trying to have it both ways, she is as partisan as Tom Delay, the only difference is she wears a skirt.