Daniel Johnson, the disabled Navy veteran who challenged Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry last year, has returned to Raleigh, to practice law.

Johnson, 33, left his job as a former Wake County assistant district attorney in 2007 to return to his home town of Hickory to challenge McHenry, Rob Christensen reports. But even in a big Democratic year, he could only win 42 percent of the vote in the strongly Republican 10th district.

"It was a fascinating experience," Johnson said. "It was a very rewarding experience. I want to stay involved and help other candidates."

Johnson is a highly decorated veteran who lost both of his legs while saving the life a crewman in Korea in 1999. He was a former staffer for then-Georgia Sen. Max Cleland.

Johnson said one reason for returning to Raleigh that his wife, Creecy Johnson, has gone to work in the state attorney general's office.

Johnson has opened up a solo criminal defense practice.

"I'm focusing on getting a practice up and running," he said.

Four names have surfaced for U.S. attorney in Western North Carolina.

As reported in The Charlotte Observer, three former federal prosecutors and a state judge are interested in becoming the U.S. attorney for the Western District based in Charlotte:

Pete Anderson: A criminal defense attorney who has served as a prosecutor with the U.S. Justice Department in Washington and the U.S. attorney's office in Charlotte.

Anne Tompkins: A former state and federal prosecutor who worked on an eight-month special assignment in Iraq to help prosecute Saddam Hussein in 2004.

Thomas Walker: A former state and federal prosecutor who served as special counsel to Attorney General Roy Cooper and is now a partner at Alston & Bird. 

Dennis Winner: A former six-term state senator who is in his second stint as a state Superior Court judge in the Asheville area.

As previously noted, former Congressional candidate and assistant Wake County prosecutor Daniel Johnson of Hickory is also under consideration.

Sen. Kay Hagan will play a key role in the appointment. 

The unofficial campaigns for U.S. attorney are almost over.

Although U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and Attorney General nominee Eric Holder have not taken any official steps towards appointing the state's three federal prosecutors, the long list of candidates appears to have been culled a bit. 

Western District: Former Congressional candidate and assistant Wake County prosecutor Daniel Johnson of Hickory is reportedly the leading candidate in the district that is centered on Charlotte. The post is currently held by Gretchen C.F. Shappert. 

Middle District: Former lieutenant governor candidate Hampton Dellinger is reportedly the leading candidate for a gig as a federal prosecutor in the district that includes Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Durham. The post is currently held by Anna Mills Wagoner.

Eastern District: Superior Court Judge Ripley Rand (son of the state Senate majority leader) is reportedly competing with Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson for the district that is centered on Raleigh. The post is currently held by George E.B. Holding.

As noted previously, the Eastern District position is important in state investigations in corruption, Hagan says she'll consider resumes and references, and past U.S. attorneys have had a strong political patron.

Who might Kay Hagan recommend for U.S. attorney?

With the three federal prosecutor jobs opening up sometime next year, the Democratic senator-elect will have a chance to name their replacements.

In talks with local lawyers, Dome has heard a few names come up:

Dan Blue. The former speaker of the state House and current legislator has strong ties to the Obama campaign in North Carolina and would be a familiar name.

Joe Cheshire. A noted defense attorney best known for his work on the Duke lacrosse case, he would be a wild-card pick who would bring a high profile to the job.

Benjamin R. David. The district attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties previously worked for white shoe law firm Kilpatrick Stockton.

Hampton Dellinger. The former deputy attorney general and special counsel to Gov. Mike Easley came in second in his bid for the lieutenant governor nomination this year.

Dewey Hudson. The district attorney in Onslow County was briefly in the national news earlier this year over the case of suspected killer Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean.

Daniel Johnson. The former assistant district attorney in Wake County is an honored veteran who took on an unsuccessful campaign against Rep. Patrick McHenry.

Abe Jones. The longtime Wake County Superior Court judge and former Wake County commissioner once worked in the U.S. attorney's office.

Ripley Rand. A former prosecutor, the son of Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand has served as an appointed Superior Court judge since 2002, though he lost a 2006 election in Wake County.

Scott Thomas. The district attorney for Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties served in the state Senate from 2000 to 2005 alongside Hagan.

Colon Willoughby. The Wake County district attorney is well-connected in Raleigh and has worked closely with federal prosecutors, most recently on the Jim Black and Thomas Wright cases.

A spokeswoman for Hagan said recently that she is focusing on building her Senate staff right now in order to avoid disruption to constituent services.

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) 

The Cook Political Report has downgraded U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry's re-election chances.

The nonpartisan political analysts have changed the Cherryville Republican's race against Hickory attorney Daniel Johnson from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican."

The report still rates Concord Republican Rep. Robin Hayes' rematch with Biscoe schoolteacher Larry Kissell as a "Toss Up."

All other Congressional races are rated as solidly favoring the incumbent, whether Republican or Democrat.

"While it's not likely that a majority of the races moved from "Solid" to "Likely" Republican will become competitive by November, the poor national climate for the GOP and the DCCC's unprecedented financial edge makes even very difficult districts for Democrats worth keeping tabs on," wriets House Editor David Wasserman.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently began airing radio ads attacking McHenry and Hayes.

One of the top tier of John McCain's potential vice presidential picks was in town last week.

Tim Pawlenty, the Republican governor of Minnesota, came to North Carolina to raise money for U.S. Reps. Robin Hayes and Patrick McHenry.

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza says the trip is part of a not-so-subtle effort to raise his profile as McCain makes his decision. 

Hayes and McHenry are among the more conservative members of North Carolina's delegation, and both face competitive races this fall.

Hayes has a rematch with Biscoe schoolteacher Larry Kissell. After winning a Republican primary, McHenry faces Hickory attorney Daniel Johnson.  

The state’s Democratic congressional delegation hosted a fundraiser this morning in Washington for Daniel Johnson, a candidate for the 10th Congressional District seat.

Johnson is challenging Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of Cherryville in November.

The fundraiser was held at Tortilla Coast, a popular restaurant about a block from the House row of office buildings on Capitol Hill. Most tickets ranged from $250 to $1,000 a plate, though House staffers could get in for $100, reports Barb Barrett.

The event was hosted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and its chairman, Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, along with U.S. Reps. David Price, Bob Etheridge, Mel Watt, Heath Shuler, Brad Miller and G.K. Butterfield.

Of Tar Heel representatives, only U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre’s name was omitted. Spokesman Dean Mitchell said McIntyre was a host, but that the invitation was sent before the office’s official approval. McIntyre was not able to attend.

State Republicans jumped on the fundraiser as proof that Johnson is a Washington-backed politician. GOP Chairwoman Linda Daves today wrote Johnson a letter:

Only a few days after issuing a patently false press release claiming that your pockets have not been stuffed with cash from Washington liberals and attacking Congressman McHenry for pointing that out, I am shocked and appalled to discover that you are in Washington today for a fundraiser hosted by several liberal, Washington politicians.

You owe Congressman McHenry and the people of Western North Carolina an apology.

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry has pulled a video of himself in the Green Zone.

On Friday, the Cherryville Republican posted a video on his Congressional Web site in which he discussed a rocket attack that occurred shortly after he tried to get into a gym.

"According to our folks here, there were eleven rockets, uh, one hit just over my head, another hit a parking lot, and another hit the gym," he says in the video, which has since been pulled.

The vice president of the group VoteVets, an advocacy group that aims to help elect veterans critical of the execution of the war in Iraq, wrote a post critical of the video Monday.

"The bottom line is that whoever launched that strike could take the information McHenry provided and use it to kill Americans in the Green Zone," wrote Brandon Friedman. "This is why professionals operating in a combat zone are trained not to reveal any battle damage after an attack."

In the May 6 Republican primary, McHenry faces Lance Sigmon, a retired Air Force colonel. Daniel Johnson, a Navy veteran, is running for the Democratic nomination against Hickory businessman Steve Ivester.

Earlier: McHenry takes heat for description of guard.

Daniel Johnson will hold a fundraiser in Raleigh Thursday.

The former Wake County assistant district attorney, who is running for the Democratic nomination to face U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, will be at the Player's Retreat form 6 to 8 p.m.

Hosts include state Rep. Grier Martin, music attorney Gus Gusler, Wake County Clerk of Court Lorrin Freeman, Raleigh attorney David Kirby, state Senate candidate Josh Stein and Wake County prosecutor Colon Willoughby.

The Player's Retreat is a longtime Democratic hangout in Raleigh.