U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is getting some help from the GOP establishment.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will attend a fundraiser next month for Jones, his campaign announced. The event will be held in the Pitt County home of Lynda and Ferrell Blount, the past chairman of the state Republican Party.

The Gingrich event comes on top of a recent Jones fundraiser in Washington that was attended by Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rob Christensen reports.

Rep. Spencer Bachus, the ranking member of the House Comittee on Financial Services, will be the star attraction at a Jones fund raiser on Feb. 26th in D.C.

Jones is being challenged by former Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin, who has been critical of Jones' opposition to the war in Iraq and for not being supportive enough of President Bush.

McLaughlin's candidacy has been been praised by David Frum at the conservative National Review and by Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Norquist will be in Greenville, New Bern and Morehead City on Monday, Feb. 18, stumping for McLaughlin.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones has taken a lot of flak from Republican Party regulars mainly because he has questioned the wisdom of the war in Iraq.

But while the Farmville Republican has angered some party regulars, there are signs the GOP establishment is not ready to abandon him, Rob Christensen reports.

Jones raised more than $50,000 Tuesday night at a Washington fund raiser attended by Rep. Tom Cole, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Hosting the event was Jones' North Carolina colleague, Howard Coble of Greensboro.