There are those who might argue that former Democratic Congressman Jim Slattery has no shot of taking down incumbent Republican Senator Pat Roberts out in Kansas, a state that hasn't sent a Democrat to the United States Senate in more than 70 years. But among those in the group who think that this race already has the real potential to be competitive is an interesting name: Pat Roberts. Here's Roberts' latest ad:

Republican Sen. Pat Roberts is airing the first negative television ad in his re-election campaign against Democratic opponent Jim Slattery.

The 30-second spot began running today in the Wichita and Topeka markets. It criticizes Slattery for earning millions working as a Washington lobbyist.

[...]

Slattery spokeswoman Abbie Hodgson says Roberts must be worried if he is starting negative attacks even before the Aug. 5 primary.

Hodgson is entirely correct: Incumbent Senators don't go negative unless they think they need to, and they certainly don't go negative this early unless they are genuinely concerned about their reelection hopes. These actions significantly undercut the internal polling released by the Roberts campaign showing their candidate up 20 points and instead suggest that Rasmussen polling showing Roberts' lead to be in the single digits may not be so far off.

If you want to help get Slattery's back, though, head over to the MyDD Road to 60 Act Blue page, of which he is a beneficiary, and show your support for his campaign today.

Update [2008-7-14 13:27:8 by Jonathan Singer]: Via release, the Kansas Democratic Party today released an FEC complaint against the Roberts campaign:

Today, the Kansas Democratic Party filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Roberts for U.S. Senate. Roberts' latest negative ad does not meet the "Stand By Your Ad" requirements set by the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.

"It appears as if Pat Roberts was attempting to dodge responsibility for making personal attacks against his opponent, something he pledged he would not do," said Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Gaughan.

"Sen. Roberts is trying to have it both ways, but his attempt at pulling the wool over the eyes of Kansas voters puts him in direct violation of the very campaign laws designed to protect us from these deceptive political attacks."