Is Scott Murphy in the clear?

Republicans have been sending a lot of signals the last few weeks about battleground districts they plan to challenge in 2010.

They’ve launched anti-healthcare reform ads in select districts, designed to soften up Democratic incumbents.

They’ve also unveiled a list of “Young Gun” challengers recruited to pick off vulnerable Democrats.

In key districts, the National Republican Congressional Committee has already lined up candidates and rolled out big fund raising operations.

So far, though, not a peep about the 20th congressional district. A lot of Republicans got burned during the special election, including national GOP chairman Michael Steele.

But this is a historically Republican district, which Scott Murphy from Glens Falls won on a squeaker.

It’s hard to imagine the GOP will sit this one out.

Murphy is already getting a solid headstart. First, there’s the obvious advantage of incumbency. By next year, he’ll be a lot better known in the district.

He has also been raising cash aggressively to prepare for any challenge. The Albany Times-Union reported in mid-July that the Democrat hauled in $567,000 from April 1st-June 30th.

For the GOP to mount a credible fight to retake this turf, some names need to emerge soon.

After all, we’re just 16 months out from election day 2010!