The DCCC has launched its Red Alert program to solicit support online for races that have immediate fundraising needs. The first challenger to be featured in the program is Larry Kissell in NC-08.

Remember how close Kissell came two years ago to ousting Robin Hayes and remember how we'd wished the DCCC had realized earlier that this race was winnable and helped him out? Well, this year the DCCC isn't making that same mistake. So far, they have been on the air in the 8th, keeping pace with Hayes' media, who, as Washington's 5th richest member of Congress and as one of Big Oil's favorite sons, has a limitless supply of money. With a ridiculous number of competitive races this year, the DCCC is not so lucky, so they're asking for our help.

Here's DCCC chair Rep. Chris Van Hollen over at HuffPo today:

Who could forget two years ago when Larry Kissell, a mill worker and public school teacher, came within 330 votes of unseating the Big Oil-funded Republican Congressman Robin Hayes in North Carolina's 8th District?

Here we are two years later and Larry is even closer now. He recently won the DCCC's 2008 Mobilize for Change: A National Day of Action award. On that single day, his campaign recruited a record 1,700 grassroots volunteers.

Larry is real grassroots success story, which is why he needs your urgent help. Robin Hayes just reached deeper into Big Oil's pocket to try and hold off Larry's surging momentum.

Robin Hayes has already taken more than $176,000 in Big Oil contributions and owns up to $23 million in Big Oil stock. But we just learned that Robin pumped an additional $100,000 worth of Big Oil money into TV ads to attack Larry Kissell.

Larry Kissell doesn't have millions of dollars in Big Oil money. He has something even more valuable -- you.

One of the great things about contributing to Kissell at the Red Alert ActBlue page is just how far not a lot of money will go.

Your contribution will be matched by Democratic Members of Congress.

That means if 5 people give just $22, grassroots candidate Larry Kissell can put TV ads on the air to fight back against Robin Hayes' Big Oil-funded Karl Rove style attacks.

Right now, Kissell has an ad up in a limited cable buy, but you can help him expand the buy by giving at the Red Alert page. You can see the ad your donation will help keep on the air in his district below: