Incumbent Nancy Boyda’s decision to turn down $1.2 million in funding from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee could help mitigate the fundraising deficit challenger Lynn Jenkins faces after her contentious primary fight.

While the latest filings from July 16 show Boyda with a fundraising edge over Jenkins, the NRCC is pouring dollars and support into the 2nd District in an effort to win back this seat. Already, Boyda is one of only three incumbent Democrats the NRCC has targeted with early media buys.

Without the backing of the DCCC, Boyda could face an uphill battle in a district she won by 51 to 47 percent in 2006.

Congressman Baron Hill (D) beat Republican Mike Sodrel to the airways with his first 30-second spot of the campaign season airing this week.

In the ad, Hill continues to showcase his more moderate-to-conservative credentials by featuring local veterans touting Hill’s commitment to health care and the new GI bill.

According to the Courier-Journal, Sodrel does not plan to kick-off his media buys until another few weeks, opting to spend his campaign funds on grassroots and GOTV activities.

districtt Congressman Baron Hill (D) is back in the ring for a fourth time with Republican challenger Mike Sodrel in a race the GOP is hoping will be its best chance at reclaiming an Indiana seat lost in 2006.

The 2006 cycle marked a wave of incoming Democrats from the traditionally red-state with Hill unseating Sodrel by appealing to the district’s conservative constituency. Hill has paid more than lip service to the conservative views he touted in 2006 by adopting moderate positions and actively supporting the Blue Dog Coalition in Congress.

His moderate record and larger war chest could give Hill the edge. However, Sodrel may benefit from presidential coattails from a district that gave Bush 59 percent of the vote in 2004.