There is a billboard along Route 21 near Waynesburg in Greene County that asks voters the simple question: "Had Enough?"

Apparently, they have not, as voters in the state's 50th Legislative District appeared poised last night to return state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, to his 17th term in office, despite scandals that have dogged him in recent years.

Mr. DeWeese, 58, was holding steady to a slim lead last night over Republican challenger Greg Hopkins, whose campaign paid for the billboard.

"This is our victory," said Mr. DeWeese to a roomful of supporters in Waynesburg. "I've told many people that most politicians aren't as humble as we need to be, but some of us are a lot more humble than we used to be.

"This is a collective victory and I'm immeasurably gratified."

The district, composed of Greene County, along with small portions of Washington and Fayette counties, seemed ready to forgive Mr. DeWeese for his association with the so-called "Bonusgate" scandal, which has resulted in charges against 12 people for allegedly funneling taxpayer-funded bonuses to Democratic state House staffers for campaign work.

Mr. DeWeese hasn't been charged, but his top aide has implicated him in court testimony.

Mr. DeWeese barely eked out a victory two years ago against Mr. Hopkins, 36, a former Arena Football League player from Nineveh, Greene County, after the 2005 pay raise debacle.

Mr. DeWeese said he was unaware of the nature of the bonuses. Statements by his former chief of staff, Mike Manzo, that Mr. DeWeese knew of the bonus scheme were untrue allegations made by Mr. Manzo to save himself and his wife from jail, the majority leader said.

Mr. Manzo, his wife, former Minority Whip Mike Veon of Beaver County and others were charged in the scheme.

The hostility from Bonusgate was far removed from the violent backlash of the later-rescinded pay raises, during which Mr. DeWeese said some constituents slammed doors in his face.

Political observers said local voters seemed not to care much about the latest scandal and doubted it would be the issue to oust Mr. DeWeese, especially in a district where he is well-known for bringing home the bacon in the form of state grants and sorely-needed jobs.

With Fayette and Greene counties perennially among the poorest in the state, Mr. DeWeese lately has announced a rash of economic development efforts, including a third new state prison to be built in the district since he took office during a special election in 1976.

Mr. Hopkins, an auditor in his hometown of Morris, was banking on a heavy anti-incumbent sentiment, coupled with a DeWeese fatigue factor to carry him through the day.

Though the district has a nearly 3-to-1 Democratic voter registration edge, it is largely socially conservative, especially involving guns and abortion.

Both candidates utilized a grass-roots effort, each knocking on at least 5,000 doors, though Mr. DeWeese far outspent Mr. Hopkins, estimating that he spent about $200,000 to Mr. Hopkins' estimated $60,000.