Richard Tisei is a nontraditional Republican vying to represent Massachusetts

For now, outside conservative groups are pouring more resources into the race than liberal groups. YG Action, founded by former Cantor aides, has spent more than $1 million on ads and mailings attacking Tierney on his ties to his brothers-in-law. The group now has a poll showing Tisei surging ahead of Tierney. Those ads are being followed up with two weeks’ worth of ads from the National Republican Congressional Committee, the group formally linked to GOP leadership. Among Democratic super PACs, the House Majority PAC last week canceled a $630,000 buy for advertising that would have gone against Tisei. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has more than $1 million worth of advertising reserved in Boston, but it’s unclear how much of that will go toward helping Tierney or helping its candidates in two House races in New Hampshire.

The Tisei campaign has also become a rallying point for a cluster of wealthy Republican donors who support gay rights and would like to see the party move away from some of its recent harsh rhetoric on the issue.

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Tisei has the financial backing of some of the most prominent gay conservatives, including Peter Thiel, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal, and Ken Mehlman, the former Republican National Committee chairman. Mehlman, now a private-equity executive, hosted a New York fundraiser for Tisei. A new super PAC supporting Republicans who approve of gay marriage — with financial backing from billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer — may enter the Tisei race in a few weeks.

Stealing a victory here would help buffer Republicans against Democratic efforts to take control of the House; Democrats need a net gain of 25 seats in November to secure the majority.

Tierney has attacked Tisei for his endorsements from Ryan and Cantor, saying he has sold out New England values for their financial backing. Democrats say a vote for Tisei is a vote for Ryan’s budget proposal that would eventually transform Medicare into a voucher system.

“Richard Tisei cannot get away from the most important vote he’s going to cast: John Boehner for speaker,” said Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “This is somebody who embraced tea party leaders.”

But Tisei’s long career, his views on abortion and gay marriage, and his sexual orientation have made it more difficult for Democrats to link him to the national GOP.

Many voters see Tisei as a local politician. “What you see is what you get,” said Bob Jancsy, 49, a plumber and registered Democrat who said he plans to vote for Obama and Tisei.

Wealth of credentials

Tisei’s first campaign for the state legislature began in 1984, while he was a senior at American University. Future U.S. senator Scott Brown, who grew up here in Wakefield, volunteered on the campaign. The two became allies and Tisei now refers to Brown, who is in a high-profile reelection race against Democrat Elizabeth Warren, as the “top of the ticket.”

After winning a state Senate seat in 1990, Tisei served in a near-powerless minority in heavily Democratic Massachusetts— at one point, the state Senate consisted of him, Brown, three other Republicans and 35 Democrats.