News that Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a convicted felon who last year completed prison time for assisting in suicides, is running for Congress has been dismissed by onlookers and his would-be opponents, who say he won't likely affect the outcome of the race.

Dr. Kevorkian announced yesterday that he will undertake an independent bid in the ninth district of Michigan, hoping to unseat Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg, an eight-term incumbent.

It is unclear whether Dr. Kevorkian could serve as a spoiler in the race by attracting enough voters to throw the race to either Mr. Knollenberg or his likely Democratic opponent, Gary Peters, though both campaigns told The Washington Times that voters are more concerned about the economy and jobs than euthanasia, which will likely be the physician's central campaign issue.

"I don't think there's a clamoring for his candidacy," said David A. Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University in Michigan's ninth district. "My students got a kick out of it. That's basically the sentiment. It's a chuckle. I don't think anybody's going to take it seriously. I think that the two major party candidates are going to be ready and prepared for this really competitive fight for this seat."

Mr. Dulio pointed out that Mr. Knollenberg defeated his Democratic opponent in 2006 by just under 15,000 votes.

"I don't think there's any way Jack Kevorkian can get 15,000 votes in the district," said Mr. Dulio, who was skeptical that the would-be candidate, who has not officially filed for the race, can get the 3,000 signatures needed to appear on the ballot in November.

Mr. Dulio also pointed out that just over 6,000 voters opted for the Green and Libertarian candidates in the district's 2006 bid, well below the figure needed to throw the race.

— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times