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Sniffing an upset in Anthony Weiner's old district, the National Republican Congressional Committee is preparing to spend significant money to counter a Democratic advertising wave.

According to several sources familiar with the group's intentions, the NRCC has been inquiring about buying advertising time on costly New York City broadcast television from now until the special election on Sept. 13.

Both campaign committees' moves, along with the active involvement of several outside groups in the race, underscore how close the race in a solidly-Democratic Queens and Brooklyn seat has become. Labor, gay-rights groups, and national party groups are now actively involved in the race between Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin and Republican businessman Bob Turner.

House Majority PAC, which is helping elect Congressional Democrats, will begin airing ads on Friday, hammering o Republican Bob Turner for his tea party connection. The group's six-figure buy on both cable and broadcast in New York City will not run on September 11.

"If Republicans like Robert Turner are going to play footsies with the Tea Party, the House Majority PAC is going to stomp on their toes," said House Majority PAC executive director Ali Lapp.