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.

To recap the campaign donations made by the (potentially) four Republican gubernatorial candidates over the past decade:

Bill Graham:

* Personal: $223,650 to Republicans, $6,000 to Democrats
* Largest: $52,000 to the Republican National Committee
* Notable: Elizabeth Dole, Lindsey Graham, Mike Easley

Fred Smith:

* Personal: $49,090 to Republicans
* Largest: $12,544 to N.C. GOP's Executive Committee
* Notable: Richard Burr, George Allen, Bob Orr

* Campaign: $100,400 to Republicans
* Largest: $179,400 to N.C. GOP's Executive Committee
* Notable: Neal Hunt, Jim Jacumin, Les Merritt

Pat McCrory:

* Personal: $4,750 to Republicans
* Largest: $1,500 to N.C. GOP
* Notable: Richard Vinroot, Doug Vinson, Hal Jordan

Bob Orr:

* Personal: $3,640 to Republicans
* Largest: $1,840 to N.C. GOP's Executive Committee
* Notable: Mitt Romney, Mark Martin, Virginia Johnson

Pat McCrory hasn't made many state and federal political donations.

According to a quick review of campaign contributions listed on Open Secrets and Follow the Money, the Charlotte mayor and potential Republican gubernatorial candidate has given $4,750 in the past decade.

The biggest beneficiary was the state party. In 1999, his mayoral campaign gave $1,500 to the N.C. Republican Party, and in 2004 and 2006, he personally gave the state party's executive committee a total of $1,300. 

He also gave to his predecessor, Richard Vinroot. In 1995, McCrory gave him $250 for his unsuccessful run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and in 1999, he gave another $1,000 for his unsuccessful general election campaign.

Other than that, McCrory supported Republican legislative candidates: $200 to Senate candidate Wayne Johnson in 1999, $250 to House candidate Doug Vinson in 2004, and $250 to House candidate Hal Jordan in 2006.

A list of political donations in local races was not readily available.