Attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D) has boosted her campaign with $110,000 of her own funds, according to online finance reports. Neuhardt and state Sen. Steve Austria (R) are running in the open-seat race to replace retiring Rep. David Hobson (R).

Austria’s campaign seized on Neuhardt’s self-donation, calling it a “desperate” move. But Neuhardt’s campaign defended the self-funding in a news release, saying it was a better source of funds than the “big money special interests” that help Austria.

Neuhardt’s campaign had raised $656,000 for her campaign and had $83,000 in cash on hand through Oct. 15, not including the donation from the candidate. Austria reported raising $1.1 million for his campaign and had $271,000 in the bank at the same point in time.

The central Ohio 7th district has traditionally voted Republican, but national Democrats appear to think Neuhardt has a shot. President Bush won the district with 57 percent in 2004.