Democratic group runs ads against GOP lawma..

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Washington • An outside Democratic group is airing television ads in 10 Republican-held congressional districts tying lawmakers to the tea party and the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Americans United for Change blames the tea party for the shutdown, saying it has put people out of work and threatened benefits. The ad includes an image of tea party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

It's part of a six-figure ad buy running in districts with some of the most vulnerable Republicans in the 2014 elections.

The lawmakers are: Tom Latham of Iowa, Richard Hanna of New York, Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania, Jeff Denham of California and Sean Duffy of Wisconsin.

Others include Bill Johnson of Ohio, Andy Barr of Kentucky, Rodney Davis of Illinois and Dan Benishek and Tim Walberg of Michigan.

Andrea Bozek, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, says the ads are "laughable attacks" and said Republicans have passed a number of measures to try to keep the government open.

Democratic group runs ads against GOP lawmakers