[img_assist|nid=1585|title=Congressional candidate Brett Guthrie|desc=Campaign Photo|link=none|align=left|width=420|height=421]Amid reports that state Sen. David Boswell’s (D-Owensboro) bid to take the open 2nd Congressional District seat will be added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red-to-Blue target list, the campaign of opponent state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) released a statement blasting the move as an indication Boswell would align himself with liberal interests.

"David Boswell is now beholden to Nancy Pelosi,” said Brian D. Smith, campaign manager for Guthrie, referring to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.). “She is buying his vote for speaker, and his support for her liberal agenda which includes pro-choice, anti-oil drilling and higher tax legislation.”

Though no official announcement has been made about Boswell’s inclusion on the DCCC’s list, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported yesterday that Boswell’s campaign manager, Bill Cox, said the news was forthcoming.

"Perhaps David Boswell will now finally admit to Kentucky's conservative Democrats that he can't exist in this race or in Congress without Nancy Pelosi,” said Guthrie. “He will now be taking money from the most liberal donors in America as directed by Pelosi.”

The Red-to-Blue program encompasses the Republican-held seats the DCCC sees as most likely to swing to the Democratic side and “offers them financial, communications, and strategic support” according to the DCCC’s website.

Boswell was shown with a slight polling advantage in the only public survey released thus far as well as an eight point lead in an internal poll commissioned by the DCCC.

With just short two months of campaigning remaining, the Democrat’s camp still has some challenges ahead of it. Guthrie’s campaign has heavily outgunned Boswell’s in fundraising. WHAS-TV’s Mark Hebert reports Guthrie is already making television buys in the Louisville market.

Financial support resulting from placement on the Red-to-Blue list could come as a boon to Boswell, given Guthrie’s monetary lead - an advantage touted by Smith in his response to the news.

"Can there be any doubt about who will pull Boswell's strings if he goes to Congress? If you are a conservative or a moderate voter, take note: David Boswell is turning to the liberal Washington establishment to prop up his
severely underfunded campaign,” concluded Smith.

Boswell's campaign, meanwhile, shrugged off the criticism of the potential national fundraising, pointing to earlier Guthrie fundraisers headlined by national figures.

"These are strange words coming from a candidate who had Dick Cheney and John Boehner come in to raise money," said Boswell's campaign consultant, Jim Cole, referencing the Vice President's March visit and the U.S. House Minority Leader's fundraising work on behalf of the Republican candidate.

The usage of the ‘liberal’ label by Guthrie’s camp in their statement is the latest attempt to paint Boswell as out of touch with a district regarded as having a conservative constituency.

Guthrie and Boswell are seeking the Congressional seat currently held by retiring incumbent U.S. Rep Ron Lewis (R-Cecilia), who has held the 2nd since 1994. Still, Boswell is often regarded as one of the more conservative of Kentucky’s candidates for federal office. Among those who endorsed him in this year’s Democratic primary was the National Rifle Association. He also received the endorsement of Kentucky’s Right to Life organization in an earlier campaign.