The National Republican Congressional Committee has given all of the direct financial assistance it can to the campaigns of former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville) and state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green), according to the organization's chair, Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

"We've put resources in both those races," said Cole of Northup's bid to retake the 3rd Congressional District and Guthrie's effort to win the 2nd District.

Cole noted the NRCC was limited to $10,000 in direct cash contributions per race and $84,100 in coordinated spending.

"We've maxed out in both those areas to both candidates," said Cole.

One highly visible aspect of the NRCC's involvement in campaigns is its television advertising effort. However, national campaign committees wall off their independent expenditure departments into separate entities and legal requirements dictate no coordination between those departments and the main organization - headed by Cole - or the campaigns themselves.

Cole noted this restriction and was unclear as to whether an ad push could be expected in either race.

"We'll be heavily involved with both races and we'll see what our independent expenditure unit does," said Cole. "But, if they feel like they're needed to be there, they'll probably be there."

Northup and Guthrie are both in tough fights for their respective districts, with Guthrie facing state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro), who has the backing of Cole's Democratic counterparts in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the form of television ads. Northup, meanwhile, is up against the incumbent who unseated her in 2006 in U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville). The DCCC earlier reserved ad time on Yarmuth's behalf.

"They're both very important to us," said Cole of the two Republican efforts.

Cole echoed the sentiment of many Republicans with regard to Northup's 2006 loss, claiming she was defeated due to a tough political climate. He argued her earlier tenure in Washington and Yarmuth's growing congressional record could benefit her campaign.

"Anne Northup's one of the best challengers we've got in the country. If it hadn't been for an exceptionally bad environment in 2006, she'd have won that race," said Cole. "People know her and like her, she doesn't have to worry about name ID and, frankly, her opponent Yarmuth now has a record that she can contrast herself against."

Chairman Cole still noted that the 3rd presented some challenges for Northup.

"It's a tougher seat demographically and it always has been for us," added Cole.

The 3rd District is one of two in the state currently represented by a Democrat . Prior to her first election in 1996, the  district was represented by a Democrat for 26 years.

Click here for more of Cole's take on Guthrie's race in the 2nd District