"I like Wakim a lot," said Reynolds. "He's a West Point grad and Harvard educated. We're going to fight that seat out."

Reynolds has been encouraging President Bush and other Republican leaders to schedule fundraisers in congressional districts for Republican nominees, including Wakim. Most recently, Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri went to Parkersburg in early July to hold a private fundraiser for Wakim.

But Blunt is hardly the first to stump for Wakim. In March, Bush came to Wheeling, followed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who held a fundraiser for Wakim in Parkersburg. Vice President Cheney also stumped for Wakim in Morgantown.

House Majority Leader John Boehner is tentatively scheduled to come to the district in early August. Sen. John McCain had planned to visit the district to support Wakim, but that trip was postponed and a new date has not been announced.–Danielle Knight