A new ad is out lauding GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack, the latest outside spending in what's shaping up to be the most competitive 2012 congressional race in Minnesota.

There have already been radio ads, phone calls and billboards both for and against the freshman Republican in the Eighth District. This time it's an online ad thanking Cravaack for "stopping Washington from spending money we don't have."

Cravaack is one of three GOP freshmen receiving the ads sponsored by Rep. Paul Ryan's political action committee. You can see the ad for Rep. Shawn Duffy of Wisconsin, another Republican who won a longtime Democratic district, via Politico.

So far, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Americans United for Change have gone after Cravaack with advertising, while Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS and now Ryan's PAC have defended him.

Only 20 months to go 'til the 2012 election.