Republican Nan Hayworth began to roll out her campaign for New York’s 19th District this week, and Republicans are optimistic about her candidacy in the race to take on second-term Democrat John Hall.

Hayworth, a prominent ophthalmologist from Westchester County, N.Y., launched a campaign Web site and filed an initial fundraising report on Thursday.

She has raised $168,000 and loaned her campaign another $150,000, giving her $318,000 in cash-on-hand right off the bat.

That puts Hayworth on about even fundraising par with her GOP primary rival, Greg Ball, who has been in the race since the spring. Ball raised $193,000 in the third quarter, giving him $378,000 in total receipts. He will report roughly $213,000 in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter.