<p>COLUMBUS, Ohio--This summer, the eyes of the political world were supposed to be focused on the special-election battle for the 12th Congressional District in Central Ohio.</p>
<p>The election is scheduled for Aug. 7, a time when little else is on the national political calendar. And how Democrat Danny O'Connor does in the Republican-leaning district was supposed to give an indication of how his party will fare in the November midterms.</p>