U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter will campaign for Republican congressional candidate Nathan Bech in western Massachusetts, Bech's campaign announced Thursday.

[img_assist|nid=65|title=Nathan Bech (R-West Springfield)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=149|height=180]The Bech (R-West Springfield) campaign said the visit will take place on October 15. Hunter (R-Calif.), is retiring this year and his son, Duncan Duane Hunter, is running for his seat. Hunter's son and Bech are both Iraq veterans who are running for Congress.

"Congressman Hunter's visit further proves the point that this is one of the top races to watch for an upset," Bech's spokesman Brian Murphy said in the statement. "The incumbent is unresponsive and the people are ready for new blood."

Bech is challenging Congressman John Olver (D-Amherst) in the Bay State's 1st Congressional District this year.

Hunter is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and also briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination this year. He represents part of San Diego County and his presidential run was marked primarily by his anti-illegal immigration stance.

The campaign said Bech met Hunter earlier this year in Washington D.C. at a policy meeting.

Murphy also noted that Hunter has served in the House with both Olver and his predecessor, Republican Silvio Conte. Hunter, Murphy said, thinks Bech would better represent the 1st District.

"This American hero wants people to know that Nathan Bech is the right change for Massachusetts," Murphy said.