WASHINGTON – National Republicans have spent more than $4 million on ads portraying Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson as a man of Washington, a veteran House member who got the federal government to reimburse him for flying his private plane around, lease a couple cars and take junkets.

On Tuesday, state DFL leaders fought back pointing out his GOP opponent Torrey Westrom has also cashed in on publicly supported perks and reimbursements while serving in the state legislature.

"If Sen. Westrom is going to remain silent while out of state groups smear Rep. Peterson, it's time to hold him accountable for his record of profiting from the taxpayers," said DFL Chair Ken Martin, in a statement.

Martin pointed out Westrom was named the seventh-highest expense collector in the Minnesota Senate in 2013 — more than doubling his annual salary in per diems, mileage, housing and travel expenses.

From 2002 to 2014, Westrom received $98,477 in per diem payments, according to state House and Senate records compiled by Democrats. In that same timeframe, he received $54,000 in district travel expenses and $119,000 on lodging expenses and $47,000 on mileage expenses.

The National Republican Congressional Committee said from 2005 to 2013, Peterson, who is running for his 13th term, spent $73,976 on money to lease two vehicles. In that same time period, Peterson reimbursed himself $139,481 in privat auto mileage and gasoline, which includes $21,535 in rembursements for his plane.

Polls have been up and down in this race, but most show Westrom and Peterson within a few points of each other. Fifty percent of voters surveyed by KSTP Oct. 3 - Oct. 6 said they supported Peterson and 41 percent said they supported Westrom with 10 percent still undecided. Then a GOP poll out last week put Westrom ahead 44-43, with 13 percent still undecided.

"This is more evidence that Democrats are worried about keeping 12-term incumbent Collin Peterson's seat," said Caitlin Carroll, Westrom spokeswoman in an e-mailed statement. "The facts are Congressman Peterson no longer represents western Minnesota's values and has lost touch with this district."

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Tyler Houlton said: "I imagine Democrats in the state legislature will be pretty furious with DFL Chairman Martin for condemning his own party's use of per diems that help them better represent their constituents."

Peterson's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.