Click here to watch "Missouri Values."

Missouri Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R) is getting some help in his gubernatorial primary bid against state Treasurer Sarah Steelman from a new 527 group -- whether he planned on it or not.

The Missouri-based Americans For A Better America launched a new ad, "Missouri Values" (subscription), that criticizes Steelman for her attacks against Hulshof. The ad triggered a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Steelman supporter who claims the organization violated Missouri's campaign finance law by not filing certain papers by required deadlines.

"Sarah Steelman is in full attack-and-mislead mode," an announcer says in the ad. "But her attack ads don’t change the truth, just confirm who we can trust as our next governor -- Kenny Hulshof."

Art Fillmore, who co-founded the organization last month, said preliminary findings by the Missouri Ethics Commission showed his group didn't violate any laws and added that he doesn't know much more than that about the lawsuit. Regarding the charges of ties to the Hulshof campaign, Fillmore said, "I can honestly say I’ve never met with Kenny Hulshof and cannot even tell you who his campaign manager is."

Fillmore said the Missouri governor's race -- specifically the ways in which the Steelman campaign has "distorted" Hulshof's congressional voting record (subscription) -- was one of the chief reasons for founding the organization. That's where the focus will remain for now, Fillmore said, but he added that the group, which he classifies as "somewhat conservative," would get involved in other races as issues arise that it deems important.