Yesterday Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan held a conference call to announce that the RNC is suing in Louisiana and the District of Columbia to challenge the constitutionality of parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Finanance Reform Act. At issue is whether the RNC can raise and spend money on behalf of non-federal candidates (particularly governors) and also coordinated expenditure limits. These two issues become especically important as redistricting fights loom in 2010 and statewide races become critical comeback opportunities for the GOP.

Duncan repeatedly defended the RNC’s position on grounds of “freedom of speech” and “freedom of association.” But it’s also clear that the RNC is trying to defend its position as a national, and not merely federal, party. At the national level, the RNC was the only Republican entity to outraise its Democratic counterpart during the 2008 election cycle.