Rep. Ben Chandler’s Old Kentucky Home just got some propping up from national Democrats.

The independent expenditure arm of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee bought 2,000 gross rating points — about $200,000 — worth of TV advertisements in the Lexington, Ky., media market from Oct. 6-29 to help the four-term Kentucky lawmaker in his conservative district.

Chandler faces a rematch with Lexington attorney Andy Barr, whom he beat by the slimmest of margins in 2010. Republicans have hammered Chandler with negative ads and now he’s getting some cover from Democratic allies.

Kentucky Republicans remain bearish on Barr’s chances, but national Democrats getting in the race is a sign that the contest has tightened.