Americans United for Change, the liberal issue advocacy group that has spent most of the election cycle attacking Republicans for the Iraq War and the poor economy, is set to launch a series of TV ads Monday to prop up vulnerable House Democrats.

The ads, timed to coincide with the delivery of economic stimulus rebate checks to taxpayers, praise the four Members for voting for the stimulus package and being part of a Democratic majority in Congress that is trying to help middle-class families.

The ads will be airing on broadcast and cable TV stations next week in the districts of Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas), who is one of the most vulnerable House Members of the cycle, and three other top GOP targets: Reps. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.).

The ads, produced by the Democratic media firm GMMB, begin with a photo montage of high gas prices, home foreclosure signs, President Bush and other Republicans.

“While gas prices skyrocketed and Americans struggled, George Bush and the Republicans gave tax breaks to millionaires and oil companies,” a narrator says in the pro-Lampson ad. “But this month, middle-class families are the ones getting a break. Tax rebate checks are here. Because Congressman Nick Lampson and his colleagues in Congress know that in times like these, a little help can make a big difference for folks in Texas. And that’s the change we need.”

Jeremy Funk, a spokesman for Americans United, said the group has paid for “a low six-figure buy.”

— Josh Kurtz