HACKETT

It looks like Paul "lost" but we need to put the numbers in a historical perspective. The Ohio 2nd Congressional District has voted heavily Republican in the recent past:

1994 Rob Portman (R) 77%
1996 Rob Portman (R) 76%
1998 Rob Portman (R) 76%
2000 Rob Portman (R) 74%
2002 Rob Portman (R) 74%
2004 Rob Portman (R) 72%

These results could be primarily due to a personally very popular candidate instead of an ideological preference so let's look at previous results:

1992 Willis Gradison (R) 70%
1990 Willis Gradison (R) 64%
1988 Willis Gradison (R) 72%
1986 Willis Gradison (R) 71%
1984 Willis Gradison (R) 69%
1982 Willis Gradison (R) 63% (4 way race)

I'd say that a 52-48 defeat was a remarkable achievement in this heavily Republican district.