Hotline On Call

Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton and Republican Rep. Jim Renaccci are running neck-and-neck according to a new poll conducted for two groups supporting Sutton in Ohio's 16th District race.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sutton leads of Renacci 41 percent to 38 percent, with Libertarian Jeff Blevins clocking in at 4 percent in the survey conducted for the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC and the Service Employees International Union.

Over 40 percent of the new district is from Renacci's old seat, while Sutton brought just over 20 percent of her old constituents to the district.

Both campaigns and national committees will spend a fortune trying to persuade the fifth of the electorate that is now undecided. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already reserved almost $2 million of fall TV advertising time in Cleveland, while the National Republican Congressional Committee has over $1 million already locked down in that market. And on Monday, House Majority PAC and the SEIU reserved another $1.36 million of general election advertising there.

The race is one of two bellwether general election contests between a pair of incumbents, and it has remained close since the start: Sutton released an internal poll from October showing her tied with Renacci.