HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) National Democrats have bought more than $750,000 worth of campaign advertising time for U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a freshman in her first re-election battle.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved $90,000 on New York City cable ads from Sept. 23 to Nov. 4, and $670,000 on Hartford broadcast and cable ads for Esty.

A spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C., campaign committee would not say if national Democrats view Esty as vulnerable because she's a freshman.

Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the congressional campaign group, said Esty will face what she called unprecedented spending by Republican backers working to keep a GOP majority in the House of Representatives.

Litchfield real estate developer Mark Greenberg received the Connecticut Republican Party's backing to challenge Esty.