The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is back on television in Louisiana to bolster the re-election of Sen. Mary Landrieu, who is facing some late-breaking competition from state Treasurer John Kennedy (R).

The DSCC hit the statewide broadcast and cable airwaves Friday after placing its media buys late Thursday, sources confirmed. The DSCC is set to spend at least $424,144 from now to Election Day, according to figures obtained by Roll Call.

“I guess their recent poll that showed Landrieu up 20 points just isn’t the case — unless this is their new strategy, to spend money on a safe seat,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher said. “The DSCC just can’t seem to decide who to help and who to abandon.”

Louisiana represents the GOP’s lone Senate pickup opportunity of this election cycle, and recent internal polling by the NRSC showed Landrieu with a 5-point lead. Republicans described the DSCC’s decision to get back into this race as defensive, arguing that it validates the NRSC’s claim that the race is tight.

But Democrats described the DSCC’s move as cautionary, noting that the Democratic committee is back up in Louisiana only because the NRSC is on the air there. The DSCC, on offense in the 10 or so other competitive Senate races, previously ceased advertising in Louisiana only after the NRSC did the same.

“While the NRSC can’t seem to decide whether they really support John Kennedy or not, we have consistently backed Mary Landrieu, and she’s going to win because Louisianans strongly support her too,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said.

The DSCC’s buy also comes on the heels of popular Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) cutting a television ad this week for Kennedy. The DSCC bought time in seven markets: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe-El Dorado, Lake Charles and Alexandria.