Click here to watch "Break -- Lampson."

Less than a week after Americans United for Change ran ads (subscription) criticizing four Republican lawmakers for their stance on a proposed expansion of the G.I. Bill, the liberal advocacy group is on the air in four more House districts, this time with a sunnier spot intended to boost freshman Democrats.

"Break" (subscription) debuted yesterday in the local media markets of Texas Reps. Ciro Rodriguez and Nick Lampson -- both of whom lost their seats following the notorious 2003 state redistricting only to win them back in 2006 -- as well as the districts of freshman Democrats Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire and Kirsten Gillibrand in New York. (Campaign finance restrictions prohibit groups like AUC from advertising during the 90 days before a primary election, limiting the potential scope of the organization's ad campaign.)

After taking an obligatory potshot at President Bush for "giving tax breaks to millionaires and oil companies" at the expense of the middle class, the spots go on to praise the Democratic representatives by name for supporting the income tax rebate measure. "Tax rebate checks are here -- because Congressman Nick Lampson knows that in times like these, a little help can make a big difference for folks in Texas," says the announcer in one of the ads. The spots go on to praise such economic measures as an example of "the change we need," tying each of the Democrats to what has become this election season's dominant theme.

All four Democratic representatives were elected by narrow margins and face potentially difficult re-election bids. By highlighting a specific achievement like the tax rebates just as checks are reaching voters, AUC hopes to shore up the freshmen while continuing to draw distinctions between the two parties. "This [tax rebate] is an example of the kinds of things that were not happening under a Republican Congress," said AUC spokesman Jeremy Funk. "It took a new direction in Congress to get things that benefit middle-class Americans."