The 2002 North Ohio elections had all the makings of one of the strangest elections America had ever seen. Incumbent Congressman, Jim Traficant, defended his position from prison, where he was serving a seven year sentence for racketeering, bribery, tax evasion and abusing his position. "You're looking at the first American in history to serve a constituency from a prison cell in America", he boasts. Up against him is bullish Republican, Ann Womer Benjamin. And 27 year old Tim Ryan, who's election campaign hinged on hanging around street corners waving signs.

The Republicans run a slick marketing campaign, buying up hours of TV airtime. They run vicious personal ads, revealing how Tim Ryan has a past conviction for using a fake ID as a student. "...the judge is not convinced of his rehabilitation. Call Tim Ryan and tell him to grow up!" Ryan laughs off their tactics. "Yeah, I'm a very bad person. Unfit for public office." In contrast to Womer Benjamin, he runs an uplifting positive campaign, coming across as likeable, if naïve.

His opponents may have the experience but Tim's campaign team joke they have God on his side. "Tim and I don't refer to God as God. We refer to him as the supreme commander. And I talk to him all the time", deadpans friend Tom Coroni. Ryan's political manager is self-styled ladies man Dean Thomas. Older brother, Alan, is his campaign manager and mum, Rochelle, keeps a close eye on things.

Ryan's team shun sleep and brave the elements for their man, never more so than when it came to Ryan's signature campaign technique: sign holding. "It's the most effective way of campaigning, like a commercial you can't turn off", he explains. Campaigners have it down to a fine art. "You can't be stationary; you got to go from one side of the road to the other", Ryan explains. "If they wave, that's a vote. But if they give a peace sign - that means they support you but they may not make it to the polls."

Standing on the street corners brings recognition but it was important to win endorsements form as many sections of the community as possible. And the Ryan Team has a unique weapon to hit the campaign trail with - a battered 1974 Winnebago, covered with home-made signs. They race across the County, speaking at functions and doing anything they can think of to whip up support.

With the campaign entering its final hours, the Republicans upped the stakes. They play on the electorates fear by claiming Ryan is soft on terrorism. But the move backfired spectacularly. First to take the stand were local firemen. "It makes me sick. They're trying to make it sound like the Republican nominee was out there helping on 9/11 and that's not right."

Election day rolls round and the team are quietly confident. But Tim has other things to concern him. "I cut myself shaving mate!" he complains. Wounds aside he goes on to wins a comfortable victory and is now a respected member of Congress.