Franklin D. Roosevelt might have liked the idea, if only he had known how to sync an iPod.

Matthew Smith, a Democratic candidate for the open 42nd District seat in the state House of Representatives, recently launched a Sunday series of podcasts, as a way to get his message out in a sort of "electronic fireside chat." That is just one of the tactics he is using in an attempt to defeat Republican Mark Harris.

Mr. Harris hopes to prevail in the Nov. 7 election by using traditional campaign methods. He's worn out one pair of shoes walking to knock on voters' doors. He's also having his supporters e-mail others because he believes peer-to-peer contact is the strongest endorsement he can get.

Mr. Harris, who beat incumbent Tom Stevenson in a bitter primary battle by campaigning for change, said he was best equipped to whip Harrisburg into shape because he is bold.

Mr. Smith said his experience working with small businesses is what sets him apart.

Both are in favor of term limits, lobbyist disclosure, more transparency in finance reporting and better communication with the public. And both say they are ready to break with their respective parties or individuals in the name of doing what's right.

The 42nd District includes Mt. Lebanon, Green Tree, Rosslyn Farms, Thornburg and parts of Bethel Park and Scott.

Mr. Harris knows that the Democratic Party, anxious to regain a majority in the House, wants the seat back from the Republicans. But he doesn't think it's going to happen.

"I think that our message is stronger," he said.

He said that, when people meet him, they are won over because they realize he's not a politician.

"If you're voting for reform, you're voting for Mark Harris," he said. Mr. Smith does not have plans to cut as much from the Harrisburg budget as he would, he said.

"If you're cutting taxes and you're spending money, you're going to run into a problem," Mr. Harris said. He said Mr. Smith has "Democratic insider mentality," illustrated by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato's being in his campaign ads.

"That's a politician endorsing another politician," Mr. Harris said.

He said next year would be the "best opportunity to get Pennsylvania moving again."

He said he took his examples from some of the Sun Belt states to see what makes state government run well: lower taxes, fewer government regulations, right-to-work laws and empowering people to make their own choices.

Among his priorities: Changing the leadership in Harrisburg, changing the way schools are funded and improving the business environment. He believes property taxes should not fund schools and would look to other ideas, such as a sales tax, to pay for education.

He said the public should participate in referendums on school budgets to help control spending.

As for the business environment, he wants to lower corporate income tax and decrease regulatory burdens so small companies can create wealth and jobs.

He did not have any specific budget cuts in mind, but he said money could be saved by making the state Legislature part time, which would cut the salary and eliminate pensions, and health-care and auto expenses.

"Forty-six other states do it successfully," he said.

He believes the state should use zero-based budgeting to start from scratch each year instead of building on the previous year's spending.

"Money doesn't grow on trees," he said.

Mr. Harris is 21, single and lives in Mt. Lebanon. He graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 2003 and earned a degree in political science from George Washington University in May.

He owns his business, which designs Web sites, mostly for nonprofit groups.

Mr. Smith describes himself as a fiscal conservative who is a "pro-business, moderate Democrat," in the style of Mr. Onorato and former state legislator Greg Fajt, who is now the state secretary of revenue.

Mr. Smith said his experience working with businesses as a lawyer specializing in employment and human relations law was invaluable.

"You can't be pro-employee without being pro-business," he said.

Cutting the fat out of state government would yield enough money to fund his program proposals, he said. Among the things he said should be cut are expensive legislative auto leases and defined benefit pensions for legislators. He said lawmakers should contribute to their health insurance premiums.

Cutting the Legislature in half is a priority, even if it means he eliminates his own job. There are 203 House members and 50 senators.

He pledges that, if he wins, he would serve no more than five terms, for a total of 10 years in office. He said he would put all of his votes on his Web site, with summaries of each bill.

He believes one way to help businesses cope with high costs is to create community health-care consortiums, where small businesses and individuals would be able to buy health insurance in groups to save costs.

He said it's government's job to create good infrastructure so businesses will want to establish themselves in an area. He borrowed Mr. Onorato's phrase, saying the area should be "shovel ready" for growth.

Mr. Smith, 34, is a 1991 graduate of Bethel Park High School. He graduated from Rollins College with a bachelor of arts degree in history. He graduated from Duquesne University with a law degree in 1999 and went to work for Babst Calland Clements & Zomnir in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Smith serves on the Mt. Lebanon Hospital Authority and the Allegheny County Personnel Board. Mr. Onorato appointed him to the Young Adult Retention and Attraction Committee on his transition team when he took office.

Other volunteer work has included the Neighborhood Legal Services Association, where he was a board member.

He and his wife, Eileen, live in Mt. Lebanon and attend St. Bernard Church. They are expecting their first child in April.

He said that, although he is a Democrat, he operates independently.

"I've worked too hard to be a rubber stamp for any person or any party," he said.