In Missouri’s 3rd congressional district, incumbent Democrat Russ Carnahan is supposed to have the advantage over Republican Ed Martin.

Carnahan’s latest fundraising e-mail certainly is playing up the drama:

We have 22 days left till the election and this race is heating up.
Ed Martin has put out his unofficial third quarter fundraising numbers — he raised over $400,000 this past quarter and has raised $1.2 million so far in this campaign, provoking the National Republican committee to promote him to ³young gun² status.

. . . It continues, blah blah blah, my opponent is a right wing ideologue, energizing the radical right, I’m dedicated to my constituents, blah blah blah, and then . . .

Believe it or not, this race is coming down to the wire. I don¹t need to tell you what is at stake in this election — I need you to join me now and take a stand. I appreciate your support.
Russ

I guess reelection bids are tougher when your sister is losing the state’s U.S. Senate race badly.