WASHINGTON – In an apparently concerted effort to expand its television advertising campaign to conservative districts, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is opening a front today against veteran U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix).

The committee is airing a spot targeting Shadegg on his economic record in a media buy totaling $162,000. The DCCC did not immediately provide details into the size of its ad reservation in the expensive Phoenix market between now and Election Day.

“He voted himself 9 pay raises yet voted against combat bonuses for our troops,” the 30-second ad says. “Shadegg gets taxpayer-paid healthcare but voted to deny 82,000 Arizona children health insurance. While you fund Congress’s pension, Shadegg wants to privatize social security and risk your retirement on Wall Street. John Shadegg has changed, and so should we.”

Shadegg, a seven-term incumbent who is widely seen as something of a conservative icon, is facing a challenge from Democratic attorney Bob Lord in a district that has traditionally leaned Republican. President Bush won 58 percent of the vote in the district in 2004.

But the DCCC is no stranger to wading into conservative districts. In this week alone the committee has begun airing ads in seats in Maryland and Kentucky that have historically been Republican-friendly.

Still, Republicans suggested today that Democrats were wasting their time and money in going after Shadegg.

"Third district voters know that John Shadegg is the type of reformer they can be proud of and that Bob Lord is nothing more than an out of touch liberal.  No number of dishonest DCCC ads can fool voters into thinking otherwise," said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.