A week after a poll conducted for Democratic nominee Travis Childers showed him leading his Republican foe by a single point in the runoff to take now-Senator Roger Wicker's old House seat, national Republicans have launched their first television and radio ads in the contest, suggesting the party is at least a little bit worried about their chances in a deeply crimson district.

The television ad slams Childers for conditions in nursing homes his company operates, while the radio spot also accuses Childers of paying his taxes late. "Our leaders should help seniors, not profit from them," the spot says.

The poll last week showed Childers leading Southaven Mayor Greg Davis by a statistically insignificant 41%-40% margin, but it was enough to scare the National Republican Congressional Committee into commissioning a poll from a well-respected Republican firm. The results must be back, and given that the party is up on the air with spots slamming Democrat Childers, the results must have shaken them at least a little bit.

Will Democrats respond with ads of their own? After all, with more than $44 million in the bank, as the DCCC reported yesterday, they have the funds to do so. And with a chance to pick up a House seat in a district where President Bush won by 25 points, how will they resist?

Facing a huge financial deficit, the last thing Republicans need right now is a shoot-out in a special election. But in order to prevent absolute catastrophe, it could prove their only choice.