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.

Daniel Johnson raised $123,000 in a few weeks.

The former Navy officer decided last year to run for the Democratic nomination to face U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Cherryville Republican.

"My wife and I spent a lot of time thinking about it, praying about it," Johnson said. "We decided the country was facing some very serious challenges ahead of it, and that I could use my experience to help find some effective solutions."

He faces a May primary against Hickory businessman Steve Ivester.

Johnson lost both legs in an accident on board his ship in August of 1999. He left the Navy to study law at UNC-Chapel Hill and worked as a prosecutor in Raleigh. (Char-O)

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry may have two more challengers.

According to the Hickory Daily Record, retired Air Force officer Lance Sigmon, 48, recently formed an exploratory committee to look into a primary race against the Cherryville Republican.

Meantime, retired Hickory businessman Steve Ivester has said he will also run as a Democrat. Ivester ran for Hickory City Council in 2005. 

Former Wake assistant district attorney Daniel Johnson has already announced he will run for the Democratic nomination. 

* Disgraced House Speaker Jim Black lines up buyer for a $1 million piece of land to pay his fines, but he won't close the deal until 2008, so he'll have to find the money elsewhere. (Char-O)

* U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole votes to override President Bush's veto of water projects bill; U.S. Sen. Richard Burr does not. It was the first of Bush's presidency. (W-SJ)

* U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California says Rep. Heath Shuler made a rookie mistake by not talking to her first about his immigration bill, which she opposes. (CQ)

* Former assistant prosecutor Daniel Johnson kicks off whirlwind tour of 10th Congressional District in bid to replace U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry. (Hickory Daily Record)

A former assistant D.A. wants to challenge U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry.

Daniel Johnson, 31, had worked for the Wake County district attorney's office for the past three years. He has moved back to his hometown of Hickory to run in the Democratic primary.

"I look around the area I grew up in, and see people struggling with keeping their jobs, affording their health care and just making ends meet," he said in a statement. "It is time for a new brand of leadership."

Johnson served in the U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2000. He received the Navy Marine Corps Medal, the Navy's highest peacetime award for heroism, for saving a crewmate during a 1999 accident on the U.S.S. Blue Ridge that severed both of his legs below the knees.

A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he promised to "rise above the divisive politics" of Washington.

Previously: Johnson considers run.