CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. -- It's a big money prize fight going on in New York's 20th Congressional District. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand turning the sprawling 20th blue in a brutal battle with Republican John Sweeney two years ago. Now, Congresswoman Gillibrand defends her title for the first time.

“If we expect to deal with this recession we need to build our way out of it,” said Gillibrand.

Gillibrand said Congress is supporting a second stimulus package that focuses on creating jobs with new infrastructure projects. Gillibrand also scoring points recently by voting no twice on the bailout bill,
a plan she believes isn't doing its job.

“If these banks are being assisted by government money. They need to start lending, so when our local communities need a car loan, or a home loan, it's there,” the Democrat said.

Gillibrand said she's been focusing on middle class tax cuts including a fix for the Alternative Minimum Tax, making property taxes and college tuition deductable. She said Sandy Treadwell claiming she voted to raise taxes is a low blow.

“In fact we put it right in the bill saying we intend to maintain all the middle class tax cuts and add more,” said Gillibrand.

The bell rang on Gillibrand's first term nearly two years ago. And since then, former New York Secretary of State and Republican Party Chairman Sandy Treadwell has been training hard for his shot at a seat in Congress.

“I'll never vote to raise taxes, or on a business. I won't do it,” Treadwell said.

Treadwell said he also would have fought against the bail-out bill. He said taking bank’s bad assets doesn't make sense. But, he said Congress should have fixed the bill instead of going home to campaign.

“The focus on Washington is on self-preservation and it is not on solving the problems on the country,” said the Republican.

Treadwell also said he won't be taking the more than $160,000 salary and favors term limits. He said if elected, the first thing he wants is a plan putting pork projects down for the count for at least a year.

“Congress could do that, based on population, that would mean $1.28 billion for New York,” said Treadwell.

Treadwell also jabbing Gillibrand for taking big tobacco campaign contributions. And for working at a law firm that worked for Phillip Morris.

Gillibrand counter-punching Treadwell for his support for President Bush. It's similar to a plan that put Sweeney on the ropes in '06.

The District's enrollment rolls read red but the district leans Democratic according to CQ Politics. Even though Republicans outnumber Democrats by 80,000 with more than 110,000 independents. It's a key national race that has both spending millions. Treadwell using a lot of his own money, and Gillibrand mostly from campaign contributions.

“Sending out mailers, doing television, that costs money, but you can win without money and many people have,” Gillibrand said.

We have nine offices in this district, around the clock, hundreds of volunteers,” Treadwell said.

But, will spending millions get you in either candidate's corner when the final bell rings?