Former Harvard teaching fellow John J. Cranley lost his first race for Congress in 2000, generating national interest in a campaign that was featured on the MTV documentary show “True Life.” This year Cranley is yet again running for a seat in Ohio’s 1st District.

Though Cranley captured only 40 percent in 2000, an Oct. 24-26 Constituent Dynamics poll has him leading at 48 percent with incumbent Steve Chabot trailing at 46 percent. A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Grove Insight Poll also has Cranley in the lead at 49 percent to Chabot’s 40 percent.

The 1999 Harvard Law School graduate spent a year and a half as a teaching fellow in Moral Reasoning 22, “Justice,” and Historical Studies B-61, “The Warren Court.”

“John Cranley, then a law student, was a smart, energetic Justice TF, much appreciated by his students,” Bass Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel wrote in an e-mail. “I hope he pulls it off and wins election to Congress.”

Franklin J. Leonard ’00, a student in one of Cranley’s Warren Court sections, even went on to work for his TF’s campaign six years ago.

While at the Law School, Cranley was one of four class marshals in 1999. Cranley received a degree from the Divinity School a year later.

In his first congressional run, Cranley faced difficult odds, only raising less than half as much money as Chabot, The Crimson reported in November 2000. Shortly after his loss, Cranley was appointed to a seat on the Cincinnati City Council and was elected to full terms in 2001 and 2003. In 2005, Cranley received more votes than any of the other Cincinnati City Council candidates.

Cranley could not be reached for comment yesterday.