Flush with a cash advantage that looks increasingly ominous for Republicans, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting thirteen Republicans with a new radio ad blitz through the Fourth of July, including in some seats the party has only a slim chance of picking up.

The ad includes a comedian who impersonates President Bush, and accuses targeted Republicans of backing oil companies at a time of record gas prices. "President Bush's Big Oil energy policies delivered high gas prices to the American people, so who better to deliver our message than someone who sounds just like him?" DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen said in a statement announcing the campaign.

Some targeted Republicans will face serious challenges come November. Democratic challengers to Reps. Thelma Drake, of Virginia, Shelly Moore Capito, of West Virginia, Steve Chabot, of Ohio and Robin Hayes, of North Carolina, have been named to the Red to Blue program for candidates the party thinks have top chances of knocking off their GOP rivals.

Other Republicans could be added to that list. Democrats running against Reps. Brian Bilbray, of California, Charlie Dent and Phil English, of Pennsylvania, Scott Garrett, of New Jersey, Virgil Goode, of Virginia, Patrick McHenry, of North Carolina, Peter Roskam, of Illinois and Jean Schmidt, of Ohio, are seen as "emerging" challengers who may, in the future, be added to the Red to Blue program.

While some races seem out of reach, others are getting an inordinate amount of attention from Democratic Party leaders. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, for example, held a campaign event for Dennis Shulman, running against Garrett in the Fifth District of New Jersey, which touches New York State. Shulman remains a long shot, though Garrett won re-election with just 55% of the vote in 2006.

Hoyer's visit, and attention the DCCC is paying to candidates running against Bilbray, McHenry and others, are attempts, with four months to go before the general election, to dramatically expand the playing field. Those efforts will not be successful in all cases, but if the party can put a few additional seats in play, it will dramatically stretch the few dollars Republicans have in their warchest, forcing tough decisions that could limit the party's ability to play offense.