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One raised money on Capitol Hill. One tapped a nationwide network of conservative donors. Another reached deep into his own pocket.

Money already has become a flashpoint in the race among Republicans trying to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District.

At least six Republicans are vying to challenge Kissell, one of their party's top half-dozen targets this year. Read the full report here.

Republican Richard Hudson is receiving support from the family of late Sen. Jesse Helms in his bid for the 8th Congressional District.

Hudson's campaign reports that Jesse Helms' widow, Dot Helms, and her daughter Nancy Helms Grigg contributed to the campaign. The donations could signal a larger role from the Helms family in the campaign going forward.

The endorsement is sure to help Hudson, who faces a crowded Republican field -- but it also represents a rebuke of Vernon Robinson, another candidate in the race. Robinson drew criticism after a controversial television advertisement called him "the black Jesse Helms" and touted an endorsement from the son of former President Ronald Reagan, who later revoked his support.

In his shocking TV ad, congressional candidate Vernon Robinson calls himself the "black Jesse Helms."

But the folks at the Jesse Helms Center are not pleased. "I personally find that ad disgusting and I am sure Senator Helms would agree with me," said John Dodd, the center's president.

Don't tell Robinson, though. The third-time candidate tries so hard to link himself with the former U.S. senator that Helms' name is mentioned no less than four times in a minute-long spot. He even touts the endorsement of Helms' son. 

As a nonprofit foundation, the center doesn't endorse candidates but the implication is Helms gives Robinson his blessing, Dodd said.

"I find it sad," he added, "that Mr. Robinson is trying to imply an endorsement by Senator Helms, who has been deceased for 3 1/2 years."

Need an early indication of what to expect this election season in North Carolina? Watch Vernon Robinson's new television advertisement airing tonight on Fox during the Republican presidential primary debate.

Robinson -- who is known for his shock politic -- calls Mitt Romney a "cowardly sell out" and says the only thing he has in commmon with President Barack Obama is "a good tan."

Robinson is running as a Republican in the crowded race to challenge U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell in the 8th Congressional District. Kissell is one of the most endangered Democrats in the nation. Robinson has run for Congress twice in the past and fashions himself "the black Jesse Helms."

National Journal's Hotline has more details on the one-minute ad. The campaign wouldn't disclose the cost of the buy.

Republican Vernon Robinson dropped his bid to run in the 13th Congressional District and plans to run instead in the 8th District, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell is the incumbent.

Robinson plans to move from Winston-Salem to Concord, a town in the 8th District. 

"I will be a resident of Concord on Monday,"  Robinson said. "I worked in Concord a number of months last year. It's a nice place to live."

Candidates don't have to live in the congressional districts they seek to represent, but residency mutes questions about running as an outsider.

Robinson's family won't be moving with him.

"We have two still in high school," Robinson said. "I'm not going to move them while they're still in high school."

Robinson has run for Congress before: in the 5th District GOP primary in 2004,  and in the 13th District against Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh in 2006, even though Winston-Salem is not in the 13th.
His decision to run in the 8th rather than the 13th comes after legislative map drawers rotated the proposed district lines, taking it out of Forsyth.

Republican map-makers drew two Democrats into the reconfigured 8th District, Kissell and U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton.