The National Republican Congressional Committee and the campaign of state Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) hit back on the news that attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) is the latest Ohio Democrat to make the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue list.

Austria campaign manager Brad Mascho called national Democrats "clearly out of touch" with Ohio's 7th Congressional District.

"Senator Austria is regularly in all 8 counties in the district, each of which is represented by Republican legislators who have endorsed Sen. Austria including Congressman Dave Hobson," Mascho said. "The 7th District has been represented by a Republican since 1939 and this year voters are ready to send a business-minded person with experience to Congress, not a liberal attorney from Yellow Springs.  In a race where a recent reputable poll shows Steve Austria 25 percent ahead of his opponent, the Democratic Party is stretching to give Sharen Neuhardt signs of life on her campaign."

The NRCC also responded to the news by pointing back to the words of Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly, who had been courted by Democrats to run for the seat.

Kelly had told Politico in October, "I don't know of a Democrat out there that can take on [state senator] Steve Austria - unless someone will move into the district."

NRCC's Brendan Buck cited Kelly's quote in his response to the news.

"When the DCCC's preferred candidate refused to run, he conceded a Democrat could never win against Steve Austria," Buck said. "Marching the national Democrat party into town isn't going to change that, especially for a far-left liberal like Sharen Neuhardt."

The DCCC's Ryan Rudominer argued that Ohioans have had enough of Republican leadership.

"Ohioans have had enough of out of touch politicians like Senator Steve Austria, who represents the failed policies of President Bush and the disastrous Taft Administration," Rudominer said. "A successful businesswoman and community leader, Sharen Neuhardt is the kind of moderate Democrat who can win a district like this, and bring people together in Congress to end our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs and deliver change."

Neuhardt and Austria are facing off to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Hobson (R-Springfield) in Ohio's 7th.