Republicans continue to line up to challenge 8th District Democratic Congressman Larry Kissell.

The latest to join the field is Hal Jordan, a Charlotte IBM executive, who received a lot of attention three years ago when he came within 30 votes of knocking off scandal-plagued Democratic House Speaker Jim Black.

Jordan joins three other Republicans who have already announced their intentions to challenge Kissell: Lou Huddleston, a retired Army colonel from Fayetteville; Tim D'Annunzio, the owner of Sky Venture Skydiving Center in Hoke County, who has loaned his campaign $300,000, and Darrell Day of Hamlet. 

There are several reasons why there is so much interest in the race, Rob Christensen reports. The 8th District is considered one of the few competitive House districts in the state.  Congressmen are considered the most vulnerable the first time they seek re-election. Kissell knocked off Republican Robin Hayes in 2008. 

And the polls suggest that 2010 could be a Republican-leaning year.

Fayetteville businessman Lou Huddleston says he will challenge U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell next year for the 8th District Congressional seat.

Huddleston, a Republican and retired Army colonel, launched his campaign today to unseat Kissell, a Biscoe Democrat who was elected last year. Kissell defeated Republican former Rep. Robin Hayes.

In a news release, Huddleston said he wants to focus on the concerns of working families in North Carolina.

"Times are tough for everyone," he said in the release. "It is time to stop the silly partisanship, the political blame games, and the outrageous spending and get down to the basics of doing what’s right for the American people."

Huddleston was born at Fort Bragg, the son of an Army paratrooper. He served in the Army for 31 years, retiring as a colonel in 2003 after a tour in Afghanistan.