Here's some comic relief while you're waiting for the Republican Convention programming tonight: Some wacky down-ticket ads.

First up is this spot from GOP Senator Elizabeth Dole, who is in a close race with Democrat Kay Hagan in recent polls. Her new ad fires back at Hagan's attacks -- by calling Hagan a yapping little dog:

"So bark away, fibber Kay," the announcer says. "That dog don't hunt."

Check out some more interesting ads after the jump.

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TPM muckraker brings us word that a lawsuit filed yesterday seeks to get a judge to toss the results of the June 6 election in which Brian Bilbray (R) beat Francine Busby (D) to finish the term of "Duke the Disgraced" -- a.k.a. former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

Former Republican Rep. Duke Cunningham’s guilty plea for taking bribes proved not enough to sway voters in California’s 50th Congressional District special election to vote Democrat. Republican Brian Bilbray defeated Democrat Francine Busby 49.5 to 45.3 percent, with 96 percent of precincts reporting, in the heavily Republican district.

Democrats had hoped that a win by Busby would be a harbinger of a national shift towards Democrat candidates. While Busby ran on the issue of Republican ethical problems in Washington, Bilbray campaigned on the issue of illegal immigration.

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