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The GOP-aligned American Action Network is helping bolster some of the most vulnerable House Republicans with an advocacy campaign defending their records on Medicare.

The campaign, which is costing the group about $1 million, attacks Democrats for trying to "balance the budget on the backs of seniors" and praises various members for fighting to preserve Medicare. The group is sending out direct mail pieces, robo-calling voters in districts, and setting up a website detailing their argument.

"The American Action Network wants to praise those principled members of Congress who are opposing this radical plan to balance the budget on the backs of America's seniors." the group's president Brian Walsh said in a statement.

The counter-attack comes as House Republicans have been hammered by Democratic outside groups for supporting a budget by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that would alter the entitlement program.

The 22 Republican beneficiaries of the campaign mostly represent competitive districts, with higher-than-average numbers of seniors. They include Reps. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., Charles Dent, R-Pa., Lou Barletta, R-Pa., Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Tom Latham, R-Iowa, David McKinley, R-W.Va., and Frank Guinta, R-N.H.

The full list of members the group is defending is below the jump: