State House Democrats are increasing their role in the contentious campaign for an open Delaware County seat, leveling a number of attacks against Republican candidate Nick Miccarelli with a new Web site.

Funded by the Pennsylvani House Democratic Campaign Committee, "The website Nick Miccarelli doesn't want you to see" attempts to tie Miccarelli to unpopular Republicans from President Bush to former Congressman Curt Weldon. The effort comes as both parties increasingly target the open seat being vacated by state Rep. Ron Raymond (R-Delaware).

Miccarelli is running against Democrat John DeFrancisco for the 162nd Legislative District seat.

Perhaps the most controversial charge criticizes Miccarelli, an Iraq War veteran, for saying in 2006 that the Bush administration should be given "the benefit of the doubt" on Iraq policy.

"Is he kidding?" the Web site asks.

Miccarelli was at the time, and still is, a reservist in the National Guard.

On Tuesday, his campaign lined up veterans in his defense.

"This may be hard for John DeFrancisco to understand, but as a member of the military - whether you are on active duty or in the reserves - you do not typically speak out in criticism of the Commander in Chief or against a war where your fellow soldiers are serving," Master Sergeant Joseph Canell, who served with Miccarelli in Iraq, said in a statement released by the campaign.

Miccarelli, in an interview with PolitickerPA.com, brushed off the attacks, pointing out that DeFrancisco, as a Boeing union chief, participated in a rally for Bush in 2004.

"He's trying to get the people in Delaware county to not see the difference between the troops and the people who started the war, which I think is an insult to the voters," Miccarelli said. "I don't need John DeFrancisco to tell me what Iraq is like."

DeFrancisco's level of direct involvement with the new, campaign committee-funded site is unclear. The candidate and his campaign spokesman could not be immediately reached late Tuesday afternoon.

UPDATE: A DeFrancisco campaign spokesman says the campaign wasn't involved.