Economic Crisis at Issue in Fall Rematch

James, 53, has cast himself as the economy's Cassandra, an unheeded prophet of doom. For months, he has said that far too much of the U.S. economy is based on debt. He says banks essentially create money when they issue loans, lending money they don't possess in a precarious system that is bound to crash.

Police almost arrested him at a Metro stop recently, he said, as he shouted quotes from Dante at riders. As the economy has worsened, he said, more people have become interested in his views, even asking him for personal financial advice. He tells them to keep half their money in cash and half in a hard commodity such as gold.

James said more communities are looking into creating currencies accepted by local businesses, one of his proposals as a fail-safe if the dollar collapses.

James wants to sue the federal government about the bailout bill, which he says is unconstitutional and will only postpone economic collapse.

"They've got their finger in the dike," he said. "It's just a horrible sellout."

James has a realistic handle on his limited chances of victory in a district in which about 73 percent of registered voters are Democrats. But he hopes to receive funding from the political action committee of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) to get his message out.

"Most people looked at me like I had three heads a year ago," he said. "At least people are taking a second look now."

Also running is Libertarian Thibeaux Lincecum, who has said that he agrees with many of James's beliefs but that James's agenda of quickly abolishing government agencies is too extreme.