JEFFERSON CITY -- File this one under "maybe Chuck's getting too much publicity."

After Democrats have spent much blogging and social media energy in recent days helping promote Republican Chuck Purgason's U.S. Senate candidacy against GOP favorite Roy Blunt, today they struck back, alleging an ethical lapse.

The Missouri Democratic Party has filed a Federal Elections Commission complaint against Joe Wurzelbacher (aka Joe the Plumber) and Purgason, over the ad Wurzelbacher placed supporting Purgason's campaign.

Wurzelbacher, the Democrats claimed, failed to properly form a committee and disclose all of his expenditures.

"If Joe The Plumber wants to meddle in Missouri politics, the least he can do is follow the law," said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart in a statement. "For someone who claims that he represents the opposite of 'politics as usual', why does Chuck Purgason seem so content with a group from outside Missouri running illegal ads on behalf of his campaign?"

When Wurzelbacher placed the ad, he told the Political Fix that he spent countless telephone calls with the FEC making sure he followed all the rules. But the Democrats cite a litany of alleged violations in filing the complaint.

Wurzelbacher filed an individual expenditure report with the FEC showing $8,000 in donations he received to pay for the ad, which has been running throughout most of Missouri.

Democrat Robin Carnahan is expected to breeze through Tuesday's primary to face the Republican winner in the general election. Blunt has a huge advantage in the polls over Purgason and is expected to get the GOP nod.

Democrats have been fomenting the conflict between Purgason and Blunt, hoping that it weakens Blunt's candidacy before the general election.