Blasted for weeks in one attack ad after another as weak on crime, Team Vargas has released a commercial defending the Omaha Democrat in his bid to unseat Republican Congressman Don Bacon.

According to the ad, "Tony Vargas is focused on keeping our families safe."

Vargas has largely been attacked on two fronts, crime and taxes, with crime taking a more and more prominent role in the past few weeks.

[Take a look above at one of the crime commercials targeting Vargas, followed by Vargas' last-minute defense which includes an attack on Bacon.]

On the campaign cash front, this is a race that is likely approaching the $20 million mark.

As of September 30th, Bacon held a slight edge in money spent.

Team Bacon (his campaign and outside groups) shelling out $6.8 million.

Team Vargas (his campaign and outside groups) spending $6.1 million.

That’s nearly $13 million before both sides started shelling out still unreported gobs of cash for the final six weeks of the race.