RALEIGH, N.C. – Democrat Larry Kissell was considered a longshot two years ago before his low-budget campaign nearly unseated a North Carolina congressman.

This year the high school teacher has the backing of the national party – and its money – in his rematch with Republican Rep. Robin Hayes for the state’s 8th Congressional District. The race is expected to be the closest of the 13 U.S. House races Tuesday in North Carolina.
 
A tight race also is possible in the 10th District, where Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry faces former prosecutor and decorated Navy veteran Daniel Johnson.

Should Kissell and Johnson win, it could mark a further shift toward Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation. Democrats are entering Election Day with a 7-6 edge.

CONCORD, N.C. – Democratic congresional candidate Larry Kissell has one last day to find the 329 votes that made the difference in his election bid two years ago.

Kissell visited Monday with phone-bank volunteers, encouraging his supporters to continue their work for one more day, and he campaigned around the 8th District. He said the feedback he’s getting sounds good but that things will take care of themselves on Election Day.
 
Kissell was largely ignored in 2006, when Democrats gained control of the House, but he narrowly missed defeating GOP Rep. Robin Hayes. This year, outside groups looking to buoy his candidacy have spent some $2.5 million in the race.
 
Kissell is a high school civics teacher.

Larry Kissell has taken the lead for the first time in a PPP poll of North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District during this cycle.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Democratic congressional candidate Larry Kissell and Republican incumbent Robin Hayes accused each other of dishonesty during a debate.

The 8th District candidates met Wednesday in Kannapolis. The Independent Tribune of Concord and Kannapolis reported Kissell brought up comments Hayes made at a John McCain rally last Saturday. Hayes said “liberals hate real Americans that work and accomplish and achieve and believe in God.”

Hayes has said it was wrong to make the comment. Kissell said Hayes wasn’t honest about the statement, accusing his campaign of initially trying to hide from what he said.

Hayes criticized Kissell for how he paid his campaign workers, arguing that it skirted state and federal tax law. Kissell’s campaign has defended his actions.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Republican Rep. Robin Hayes attacks Democratic challenger Larry Kissell for allegedly skirting the law in a blistering new campaign ad.

The ad began running Tuesday.

The five-term incumbent from Concord knocks Kissell for handing in a 2006 campaign report late and revives an earlier claim that the Democrat cheated his workers by not paying into unemployment insurance and workers compensation funds. Hayes also questions why a Kissell camapign brochure accuses the Republican of voting for trade policies “like NAFTA and CAFTA” because he wasn’t in Congress when the first deal was passed.

Kissell campaign spokesman Tom Thacker said the election fine stems from a report that was handed in one day late. Thacker said Hayes’ focus on his challenger instead of the economy shows the Republican’s priorities are misplaced.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A national Democratic group is pouncing on Republican Rep. Robin Hayes in a new television ad aimed at voters in the 8th Congressional District.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s ad accuses the five-term incumbent of supporting President Bush’s economic policies and voting for legislation that has sent jobs overseas. The ad says Democratic challenger Larry Kissell will fight for North Carolina jobs.
 
But Hayes’ campaign noted that the bill the ad says was bad for the economy was supported by all of North Carolina’s Republican and Democratic representatives.

Hayes has said his voting record helped workers in the district, which runs from Charlotte to Fayetteville.

The Democratic group has spent about $120,000 on the ad so far.

Robin Hayes 44
Larry Kissell 39

According to Public Policy Polling, there not much going on in 8th District Congressional race. In July, the PPP found Hayes leading by six points.

“Kissell, despite a TV advertising campaign, is still mostly undefined with the electorate of the district. 28 percent of voters view him favorably, 23 percent view him unfavorably, and 49 percent still have no opinion,” the pollster’s blog said.

“Even when it comes to the job performance of Hayes, a 10-year incumbent, there’s a high level of ambiguity. 38 percent approve of him, 31 percent disapprove, and 30 percent have no opinion.”

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