Democrats expand effort against Florida GOP Rep. Southerland

Democrats are expanding their on-air presence in Florida's 2nd district in hopes of unseating freshman Republican Rep. Steve Southerland.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is increasing its current investment in the Tallahassee and Panama City markets by $250,000 over the next two weeks.

And the committee is launching a new ad in the district on Friday that slams Southerland for backing Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget while characterizing his $174,000 congressional salary as "not so much." It's the DCCC's fourth ad in the race.

House Majority PAC, the Democratic group working to regain a majority in the House, also launched its first television ad in the race this week, and went up on African-American radio with an ad on Thursday. Democrats believe the black vote in the district could be pivotal to Democrat Al Lawson's chances.

Earlier this month, Democrats touted a poll that had Southerland tied with Lawson, and the expansion of their buy seems to indicate they're bullish on their chances going into the final weeks of the campaign.

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