Larry Kissell

Larry Kissell Leads Robin Hayes in New Poll

wkirby — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:43:22 -0600

Larry Kissell, Democratic Congressional Nominee in North Carolina's 8th District, today released internal polling results that show him leading incumbent Congressman Robin Hayes 45%-43% in an initial head-to-head match up. Showing Kissell's strength, the poll was taken at the same time Hayes was airing deceptive, negative ads against Kissell.

Kissell Brings Us Back to $1.22 a Gallon

admin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:09:21 -0600

At least for a day...

Larry Kissell, the Democratic Nominee for Congress in North Carolina's 8th District, is all over TV news, news wires and political blogs this morning, after helping hundreds of struggling motorists on Father's Day with $1.22 per gallon gas, the price when Robin Hayes first took office. All indications point to one thing - this race is heating up, and will be the one to watch in November.

Just look what people were saying about the campagn at yesterday's event:

Hard Work Paying Off

admin — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:57:47 -0600

Your support and hard work to take back our seat in North Carolina's 8th District is paying off. We're up in the polls and were just named a true "Toss Up" by the nonpartisan Cook Report.

8th District toss-up

Analysts with The Cook Political Report, an independent newsletter that researches elections, has ranked the 8th Congressional District a toss-up.

Two years ago, Rep. Robin Hayes, a Republican from Concord, fended off Democratic challenger Larry Kissell by 327 votes. The race garnered 121,523 votes...

The Cook Report just a month ago had rated the 8th District as "leaning Republican." On June 5, it was moved to the toss-up category.

read more

Hayes: You need me more than I need you.

admin — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:59:31 -0600

That's what Robin Hayes said. Doesn't it make you see red? He told the Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools"You need me more than I need you."

Really, it is documented in two Montgomery Herald articles.

Hayes challenging " You need me more than I need you!" to a Montgomery County Superintendent , was a Robin Hayes most of us had never seen. It exposed him as the politician, much like when he switched his vote, not once but twice to help President Bush pass a bill that hurt workers in the 8th district by just one vote. This was the Robin Hayes who inspired high school teacher Larry Kissell to run for Congress in the first place.

Why bring this up? Yesterday Hayes visited Montgomery County to discuss education (before heading to a country club to raise money for his campaign) . Apparently, he found out that maybe he does need the people of Montgomery County now that he is down in the polls. For too long he has played politics rather than help prevent the problems the community faces.

Remember, it goes far beyond his hypocrisy on education issues. Only two other Members out of the entire House and Senate have more stock in companies making money off the war in Iraq than Robin Hayes. We all know he is consistently listed as one of the wealthiest Members of either the House or Senate, but his investment in the war is really shocking.

League of Conservation Voters Endorses Larry Kissell

admin — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:15:06 -0700

Kissell Committed to Sound Energy Policy, Creation of Green-Collar Jobs

The League of Conservation Voters, which works to turn environmental values into public policy, announced the endorsement of Larry Kissell for election to North Carolina's 8th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Leslie Hubbard on Sanford-Hunt

admin — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:50:26 -0600

The following was written by Leslie Hubbard of Clayton, NC.

In NC we're a little spoiled. We have Democratic Party leadership that truly respects and appreciates the little guys.

Last year was the first Sanford-Hunt Dinner, a low-dollar fund raiser (30/plate) that honors two outstanding former NC Governors, Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt. According to Jerry Meek, this low-dollar event is now the most profitable fund raiser of the year for the Party. Those who Host and Sponsor and "beFriend" this event -- the big guys -- have their priorities in order. Kudos and Thank you to them all.

But that's not really what I wanted to tell you about.

All Eyes on the Eighth

admin — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:22:58 -0600

By Marie Horrigan, CQ Weekly

National Democratic strategists earned plaudits for their 2006 gains, but there were flubs. Will earlier party support put their defeated challenger to GOP Rep. Robin Hayes over the top?

Voters in the mostly working-class precincts of south-central North Carolina that connect Charlotte and Fayetteville were faced with a study in opposites in their candidates for Congress last year. The Democratic challenger was Larry Kissell, a social-studies teacher who also spent 27 years in midlevel jobs in a hosiery mill. The Republican incumbent was Robin Hayes, a millionaire hosiery mill owner and descendent of one of the region's founding families. Despite being outspent 3-to-1 and being cut off from support from party headquarters in Washington, Kissell managed to come within 329 votes of one of the year's biggest upsets — and created the second-closest House race in the country.

A shrewd campaigner, Kissell leveraged a significant amount of free publicity through events such as his summertime gasoline sale, in which he offered to make up the difference between the pump price in North Carolina in August 2006 ($2.89 a gallon) and the price when Hayes took office in 1999 ($1.22). The event drew some 500 motorists to Benjy Dunn's Filling Station in Biscoe and won Kissell media coverage that his underfunded campaign could not yet purchase.

Hayes, meanwhile, was weakened by his pro-war sentiments — and by some politically risky votes he took out of loyalty to the Republican Party. Hayes was a deciding vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2005 despite having earlier declared himself "flat-out, completely, horizontally opposed" to it, a treacherous vote given the major textile interests in the district.

April 28th - 100 County Canvass

admin — Fri, 25 May 2007 17:21:15 -0600

Attend a canvass in your area!

On Saturday, April 28, we're hitting the streets again to talk with our neighbors about the difference Democrats are making in North Carolina with our 100-County Canvass.

Local party leaders are planning events in Anson, New Hanover, Wayne, and Wake Counties. To sign up for our April 28 canvass events, click here.

Blogging the NCDP Holiday Reception

admin — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:52:17 -0600

from Blue NC:

"...My company had its Christmas party in Raleigh, so I decided to go over early and drop in to the holiday festivities at the North Carolina Democratic Party headquarters.

The event was a fine affair by any standard. Everyone was upbeat and enthusiastic, and Jerry Meek received plenty of applause, both for the quality and brevity of his comments.

Kissell Gains Votes in County Canvasses; Recount is Next Step to Decide the Closest Undecided Congressional Race in the Nation

admin — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:26:59 -0600

In the closest undecided Congressional race in the nation, Larry Kissell gained votes in the county canvasses today and less than one-half of one percent separates the two candidates. Mecklenburg County results are pending, but Kissell carried the county by a 2:1 margin. The difference is much smaller than the one percent required for a recount.