The National Republican Senatorial Committee did next to nothing to help him get elected, the Masachusetts senator says.

House Democrats are seeking donations from supporters angry about the labor protests in Wisconsin.

Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), e-mailed out a fundraising pitch asking for funds to help the party stand up to Republicans in Madison, Wis., as well as Washington.

"If the protests in Wisconsin teach us anything, it's that we must meet the Republicans’ push for an extreme right-wing agenda head-on with the strength of Democrats standing united," Israel wrote.

Israel's e-mail, entitled, "Washington, Wisconsin and You," comes before a key fundraising deadline, and also raises fears of a government shutdown on March 4 if Democrats and Republicans can't agree on a measure to continue funding the government.

"Time is short," Israel wrote. "If Republicans refuse to back down from their radical cuts by next week, the government could be forced to shut down."

Not many national political figures have sought so far to raise money off of the Wisconsin protests, which carried on Friday into an 11th day with no immediate end in sight. The Republican governor, Scott Walker, wants to limit collective bargaining rights for public employees and force unions to contribute more to their health and benefits programs.

Republicans issued a backhanded compliment to two vulnerable Democratic senators Friday.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee wished Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow "congratulation" for being ranked "most liberal" in the Senate in National Journal's 2010 Vote Ratings.

The NRSC hinted that as the Democrats pop "the champagne corks to celebrate" they're likely to see this "most liberal" ranking in a TV ad sometime soon.

In the release sent to Ohio reporters, an NRSC spokesman said: “Given his love of ObamaCare, tax hikes, reckless spending and debt, it’s no surprise that Brown has been recognized as the Senate’s number one liberal extremist, but he is surely glad to receive the recognition he deserves for his big-government record."

A similar release went to Michigan reporters.

Brown and Stabenow were tied for first in the vote rankings with seven other Democrats, none of whom are expected to face contests similar to the Midwesterners.

New York Rep. Tim Bishop (D) touted his vote against the House Republicans' "sham budget" and asked supporters for contributions to fend off the "right-wing attack machine."

Crossroads GPS, the group conceived of by GOP strategists Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, recently bought airtime in a number of vulnerable Democratic districts, including New York's 1st.

That's where the group made its largest expenditure — more than $63,000 — possibly because Bishop barely squeaked out a reelection victory in November, beating Repubcian Randy Altschuler by fewer than 1,000 votes.

"Crossroads GPS, the Karl Rove-led group funded by anonymous right-wing special interests, is back and running attack ads targeting my vote against the House Republicans' budget and saying that I voted against 'making America great again,' " Bishop said in an e-mail to supporters Friday.

"Contribute to my Emergency Rapid Response Fund before Saturday at midnight so I can set the record straight about my efforts to fight for Long Island families."

--Updated at 5:16 p.m.

Would-be 2012 rivals have criticized the plan former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed into state law as "socialized medicine."

The former House Speaker said he's not interested in political attacks: "I have every interest in a national dialogue."

Former senator and potential White House contender Rick Santorum said Boehner should defend the Defense of Marriage Act.

The presidential field has weakened as Republicans seem to conclude they’d stand a better chance of winning in four years.

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) praised Gen. David Petraeus for ordering an investigation into the report that Army officers were ordered to manipulate members of Congress using "psy-ops."

A report in Rolling Stone accused the Army of illegally ordering a "team of soldiers specializing in 'psychological operations' to manipulate visiting American senators into providing more troops and funding for the war."

Israel, who has served on the House Appropriations and Armed Services committees, was one of the members targeted during a trip to Afghanistan, according to the magazine.

Israel currently heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

As a result of the report, Petraeus "is preparing to order an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the issue," according to a statement issued Thursday.

Israel said the general "did the right thing by ordering an investigation into this matter."

"I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan eight times and have always been proud to meet with our troops serving on the front lines," Israel said in a statement issued by his House office. 

--Jordan Fabian contributed