NRCC Ad Hammers Phil Hare on "Debt Myth" Comments PLUS: A New Poll Shows Hare Trailing

A few weeks back, we told you about Rep. Phil Hare's (D-IL) unbelievably ill-informed characterization of the national debt as a "myth." The National Republican Congressional Committee is hitting Hare on the gaffe, rolling out a new TV ad spotlighting the incumbent Democrat's mind-bending denial on an issue that is, alas, all too real:

A new poll from The Hill shows Hare's Republican challenger, Bobby Schilling, opening up a 7-point lead in Illinois' 17th District:

Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) is in trouble. He ran unopposed in 2008, but this cycle he trails the GOP candidate, Tea Party favorite Bobby Schilling, by seven points — 38 percent to Schilling’s 45 — and 14 percent of likely voters are undecided, according to The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll.