Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., placed a six-figure television buy more than a year ahead of Tennessee’s primary, enlisting Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul as a guest star, according to an Alexander spokesman.

The reservation will run statewide from July 8-21 and cost about $180,000. It includes broadcast and cable reservations and $24,000 in radio advertising.

The Lamar camp provided the ad for the buy to CQ Roll Call and noted that he had a $2 million second-quarter fundraising haul. The ad is an anti-government, “positive” spot about fishing rights.

A week ago, Senate Conservatives Fund Executive Director Matt Hoskins wrote to group supporters of his interest in supporting a primary challenge against Alexander if “a strong, conservative” candidate emerges.

Tennessee’s GOP primary is scheduled on Aug. 7, 2014.