Democrats openly acknowledge that their attacks are, in no small part, aimed at knocking the ambitious 39-year-old conservative down a peg and say they want to make sure his northwest Wisconsin House seat doesn’t turn into a launching pad for a future statewide bid. Democratic operatives are privately pledging to wage an aggressive 2012 campaign for his seat and have started floating the names of several potential challengers.

“It’s hard to be a rising star if you’re a one-term congressman, which I think he’s going to be,” said Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate, who has helped direct the anti-Duffy offensive…

As word spread last week that the congressman would be appearing with Walker at the fundraiser, the anti-Duffy machinery kicked into gear. The DCCC sent out two press releases highlighting the event — both with an eye toward painting Duffy as out of touch with voters in the working-class-heavy district.

“This is a guy [who] is fundamentally out of step with his district,” said Tate. “He is not the least bit fit for the seat.”