By Jim Morrill -- the Charlotte Observer

In the race to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger, even fellow Republican congressmen from around the country have gotten into the act.

A group backed by moderate GOP lawmakers began airing radio ads Friday attacking three of the four candidates in Tuesday's Republican primary.

It's the latest salvo in a contest almost certain to decide the next member of Congress from the 10th District. Ballenger is retiring after nine terms in the Western North Carolina district that includes Lincoln, Catawba and Cleveland counties. Though two Democrats are running, the district tilts strongly Republican.

So it's no surprise the race is among the nation's most expensive. The nearly $2 million spent by the four is more than in all but six races across the country.

All the candidates have dug into their own pockets. That continued this week as George Moretz, CEO of Carolina Mills in Maiden, on Thursday put an additional $140,000 into his campaign, for a total of $925,000.

Sandy Lyons, 47, has loaned his campaign $445,000. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a 28-year-old legislator from Cherryville, has put $96,000 into his race.

But it was Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman's loan to his campaign of $266,000 that raised eyebrows at the Republican Main Street Partnership, a political action committee associated with the group of centrist Republicans that includes 70 members of Congress and governors.

The ad says Huffman's campaign finance reports "raise lots of concerns." Spokeswoman Kerry Kantin, whose group supports Lyons, said Huffman's loan "raised some red flags."

Huffman's personal financial disclosure shows he made about $102,000 last year. His biggest assets: a 401(k) and an IRA, each with assets ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.

Huffman said Friday a loan that size is not unusual.

"How can that be a lot of money in this day and time?" he asked. " Voters in this district are just tired of these things. And I don't think it will have any impact on this election."

The ad isn't the first time members of Congress have figured into the race.

At a forum in Hickory last month, Huffman attacked the eight GOP congressmen who had endorsed Lyons, former president of Corning Cable Systems in Hickory. He suggested their support was a result of campaign contributions from Corning's parent company.

"I can't buy congressmen like that," Huffman said at the time.

Ballenger, who also has endorsed Lyons, said at the time he was "shocked and angered" by Huffman's "scurrilous and baseless attack" against his eight colleagues.

The 10th District has been among the region's hardest hit economically. Cutbacks in textiles, furniture and fiber optics have cost 40,000 people their jobs. Through March, Catawba had lost more manufacturing jobs - 9,700 - than any county in the state. Candidates have talked jobs. But in appealing to conservative voters, they've also talked about values and emphasized their religious beliefs.

As for Lyons' support from sitting members of Congress, he says he's not embarrassed.

"I've been doing that in order to develop those relationships," he says, "so if I'm the person chosen to represent this district I can hit the ground running."