Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District races in 2000 and 2002 demonstrated that noncandidate groups are strategic actors who target their resources where they are likely to have an impact. The 2000 open-seat race between Republican Melissa Hart and Democrat Terry Van Horne saw significant noncandidate group activity. However, the 2002 race between Hart and Democratic challenger Stevan Drobac, Jr. provides a textbook example of a race between a professional politician and an untested amateur. Despite the Fourth District's Democratic advantage of 54,000 registered voters, Drobac lost. The change from 2000 to 2002 demonstrates that noncandidate groups are wise to invest in competitive elections of candidates friendly to their cause because the advantages of incumbency mean further investment is unnecessary in future elections.