Okay, we've got some more for you on that wonderful attack ad we posted on earlier that Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) is running -- it connects his Dem challenger to Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco values, and (gasp!) young people dancing to club music.

The ad is worth dwelling on because it's a sign that this race is going to be a top priority for both national parties this Fall.

After all, it's only May, but Graves is sinking money into the spot. Heather Shearin, VP and general manager for the local ABC station, confirmed that Graves has spent $33,000 on the ad since it first ran May 8 -- a sizable buy for a rural district in the Midwest.

In an amusing detail, Graves is not running the ad in Kansas City, where Barnes is better known and where such an ad would be unlikely to resonate. Instead, it is only running in the rural markets of the district.

The ad is getting roundly panned in the local press. But Graves clearly sees the ad as effective: According to the Barnes campaign, it was originally set to air only from May 8 to May 18, but was extended to May 21. The Graves campaign has declined to comment on any details.

That things have turned so bitter so early suggest that Graves may sense he's vulnerable, giving Dems an opportunity to oust a four-term incumbent, which would be a major triumph.

Because of this, the race is going to be a major target for the national party committees. Barnes appears to be a well-positioned challenger: She's a popular former mayor of Kansas City who starts out with big name recognition who also originally hails from the more rural part of the district.

Both sides have stockpiled lots of cash for the race: The latest FEC filings show that as of the first quarter, Graves has a war-chest of $1.13 million cash on hand. Barnes is slightly behind at $954,000 on hand.

No public polling has been done on the race yet, though a SurveyUSA poll is expected some time this week.

This is one contest we'll be watching.