U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry is also doing a lottery.

The Cherryville Republican gave out some tickets to Barack Obama's inauguration to local leaders.

"After giving out some tickets to community leaders and elected officials (mostly Democratic), we are distributing the rest by random lottery," wrote spokesman Brock McCleary in an e-mail to Dome.

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry has loaned his own campaign $175,000.

Brock McCleary, a spokesman for the Cherryville Republican, said the loans shows he is "willing to make a personal investment in his fight for good jobs and lower gas prices for North Carolina."

But a spokeswoman for Democratic opponent Daniel Johnson said it shows that the second-term Congressman doesn't think he's raised enough money. 

"We think it demonstrates he's not getting the support he thinks he would need to stay competitive," said Lauren Moore.

McHenry raised $146,000 in the most recent reporting period, which gave him $411,000 in total.

Johnson, an attorney from Hickory, raised $125,000 in the same period, and had $219,000 in cash. (Char-O)