Capitol Alert: Democrats give Dan Lungren a mouthful over PB&J

Rep. Dan Lungren is getting some flack for his favorite sandwich in a new television spot launched by a Democratic campaign committee.

The ad, running in the Sacramento region, goes after the Gold River Republican and apparent peanut butter and jelly sandwich fan for votes the ad claims would benefit millionaires and companies that "ship our jobs overseas."

"So thanks to Dan Lungren... peanut butter and jelly may be all we can afford," the narrator says.

The TV ad, which is scheduled to air in Sacramento media markets all week, is paid for by the House Majority Pac, a so-called "Super Pac" independent expenditure committee that is not subject to campaign contribution limits. The committee has not disclosed the size of the Sacramento ad buy, but said it was part of a "6-figure paid advertising campaign offensive" launched against at least four House Republican incumbents.

The ad is the latest jab in a a series of early attack pieces targeting Lungren in his re-election rematch against Democrat Ami Bera. A close voter registration split in the newly drawn 7th Congressional District is expected to make the race one of next year's the most contested House campaigns.

Lungren campaign consultant Rob Stutzman said he wasn't worried by ongoing attacks, adding that his client is "happy to have a campaign over the economy."

"People in this district don't fall for lame class warfare arguments when they know that Lungren has tried to protect them from Obamacare and has been an advocate for extending the middle class tax cuts of the previous administration," he said.

Both Bera and Lungren reported large fundraising hauls in campaign finance filings due over the weekend. Lungren reported raising $596,228, closing the period that ended Sept. 30 with $421,888 in the bank. Bera raised $860,159, leaving him with $707,760 cash on hand. The Elk Grove doctor also reported about $250,000 in campaign debt, mostly from personal loans from 2010 his campaign has said he does not intend to get back.