If ever a place exists where the heat of fear and anger in the land might be directed with the focus of a magnifying glass to start a political brush fire, the 4th Congressional District may be it. Republicans have a real chance here to reclaim a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The district, which includes northern Allegheny County, all of Beaver and Lawrence counties and parts of Butler, Mercer and Westmoreland counties, is held by two-term Democrat Jason Altmire, or should we say Blue Dog Democrat Jason Altmire, a status his supporters didn't fully comprehend until his votes against health care reform. To the chagrin of some, Mr. Altmire is unopposed on his party's primary ballot.

With some Democrats disillusioned with the incumbent, the challenge of any Republican candidate in the fall will be to offer a strong conservative alternative so that the core Republican constituency isn't tempted to reward the faux variety who otherwise lines up with Speaker Nancy Pelosi. And in the Republican primary, both candidates are staunch conservatives.

Indeed, on the issues, Mary Beth Buchanan and Keith Rothfus are almost indistinguishable. Both are strongly pro-life, both deplore rising deficits, the stimulus spending that feeds those deficits, the government role in health care reform and the taxes that come with it. Their backgrounds also have something in common. Both are lawyers. Both worked for the Bush administration in different capacities.

Ms. Buchanan, 46, of Fox Chapel, is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Law School who went on to be appointed the U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania when only 38. During her years in the office, which extended into the tenure of the Obama administration before she was asked to step down, she prosecuted a number of high-profile cases.

Mr. Rothfus, 48, of Edgeworth, graduated from Notre Dame Law School and most recently has been in private practice. Between 2005 and 2007, he was employed by the Department of Homeland Security, where he set up an office to work with faith-based organizations involved in disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina and other calamities. Mr. Rothfus is also a survivor of a rare form of abdominal cancer, which animates his opposition to the health care legislation (he doesn't believe the innovative treatment he received would have been available under a government-controlled system).

While Mr. Rothfus is not yet well known, Ms. Buchanan's name recognition is very much a two-edged sword. Her prosecution of former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht is a case in point. Despite pleas by various prominent citizens (including former Republican governor and U.S. attorney general Dick Thornburgh) to drop the case when it was obvious it wasn't going anywhere, she wouldn't let up, wasting time and tax dollars and planting the idea that she was all about partisan vengeance -- a notion that is likely to put off any Democrats tempted to register a protest vote in November if she is the GOP candidate.

More distressing yet is her attitude to family obligations and work. In a Post-Gazette interview, she held her opponent's parental situation against him as a married father of six children, the youngest age 3. "I'm running full time for this position and I will be able to devote my full time to it, as I do not have other responsibilities -- as my primary opponent should be concerned about," she said. This extraordinary comment, vintage 19th century in its lack of empathy and understanding, would be offensive if leveled against anyone, up to and including Sarah Palin.

While the two candidates are virtually the same on the issues, one has a record of stubborn misjudgment and the baggage to go with it. That is why Keith Rothfus, who has earned the Post-Gazette endorsement, would be the stronger nominee for Republicans in the 4th District.

Cartoonist Rob Rogers does "Rob's Rough," an early look at his work and his creative process, exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.