WASHINGTON -- Even April's Pennsylvania Presidential primary might be tame in comparison. The opening shots of the 2008 race for Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional seat have already been fired.

Former Republican Rep. Melissa Hart, in an effort to regain her seat from Democrat Rep. Jason Altmire, has produced one of the first attack ads of the 2008 U.S. campaign season. In the advertisement, an ominous voiceover says, "Jason Altmire has only been in Congress just 12 short months. But that's all it's taken to learn how big a tax-and-spender he really is."

Hart and Rep. Altmire staged a close race for the suburban-Pittsburgh seat in 2006. But the new ad signals a bold change in tenor and tone from the previous contest, in which Hart publicly announced her refusal to run attack ads.

Rep. Altmire, in an interview this morning with wpxi.com's Scott MacFarlane, said, "That ad has energized my supporters, because clearly she's running a `sour grapes' campaign. Certainly, I'm going to face a difficult opponent, because she's someone who's held this seat before," he said.

The first-term Democrat has built a large financial warchest for his re-election race. Financial figures obtained today by wpxi.com show Altmire has raised more than $1,000,000. As of Jan. 1, he had $911,000 cash-on-hand to fund his campaign.

Rep. Altmire said he raised more than $100,000 at a single campaign fundraiser in 2007 with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) at the Rivers Club on Grant St.

Julie Shutley, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told wpxi.com, "Jason Altmire's record won't be well received by the voters of Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional District. Melissa Hart is running a very strong campaign and is in a good position to win back this seat. "