Oct. 12--Without divine intervention, even Don Elijah Eckhart himself doesn't expect to go to Washington as the next member of Congress from central Ohio.

Eckhart, however, could help determine who does.

The retired state legislative analyst from Galloway could be a wild card in a close race between Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy and Republican Steve Stivers in the 15th Congressional District, one of the country's most competitive.

Eckhart is running as an independent, while Mark Noble will be on the ballot as the Libertarian candidate.

Although Noble has been running a low-profile campaign, Eckhart has been advertising on radio stations since June, has handed out hundreds of leaflets outside churches and other venues, and has appeared at every debate for the office.

He also has secured endorsements from two political-action committees that have clout with conservative voters: the Ohio Right to Life PAC and the Family First PAC.

Eckhart said he's making a strong bid for Christian voters -- his pamphlets emphasize his opposition to abortion and give a link to a Web site where he discusses his faith -- and for people disenchanted with the two major parties.

By stressing his opposition to abortion, assisted suicide and stem-cell research, Eckhart might peel away some Republican voters who'd otherwise support Stivers, who favors abortion rights and stem-cell research. That could make a difference in a close race, said Paul Beck, an Ohio State University political-science professor.

"This is a very competitive district and it's going to be a tight race," Beck said. "Given that situation, I think anybody else on the ballot other than the major-party candidates has the potential to be a spoiler."

Kilroy ran in 2006 and lost to incumbent Rep. Deborah Pryce, who is retiring, by a 0.48 percentage-point margin in a two-way race after a mandatory recount.

Eckhart insists he's not running as a spoiler.

"There's no automatic reason that there should be only two candidates: Republican and Democrat," he said. "The only way I can run is as an independent."

Eckhart is the first independent candidate in Ohio to win endorsements from both the Ohio Right to Life PAC and the Family First PAC, which says it supports candidates who favor traditional marriage, school choice, fiscal responsibility and an end to abortions. Right to Life has included Eckhart on thousands of slate mailers it has sent to voters, while Family First's executive director says the group might do likewise.