Kannapolis Citizen
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
www.salisburypost.com/kc/

Edwards stumps for Kissell
Kissell looks to the future at rally

By Hugh Fisher, Kannapolis Citizen

CONCORD — Friday was a night for rivalries on the football field and in the realm of politics as well, as Larry Kissell, candidate for the 8th District seat in the U.S. House, appeared at a campaign rally outside Concord High School to get support from a famous fellow Democrat, former senator John Edwards.

Wearing jeans and a blue button-down shirt, Edwards stood in the bed of a pickup truck and addressed the small crowd in Concord High School's parking lot.

Edwards, a 2004 presidential hopeful, appeared at the rally to show support for the candidate he said represents "what is right with America."

"America desperately needs change," Edwards said.

"You ask me which (candidate) I'd rather have, somebody who comes from a small town ... or somebody who's been there for years now and is, as I put it, part of the problem, not part of the solution," Edwards said.

Kissell spoke to the love of community that he says makes him the best man to represent the area.

"I grew up in the 8th District," Kissell said. "My mom was a schoolteacher and my dad a decorated World War II veteran."

During his remarks, Edwards emphasized Kissell's background, including his service as a deacon at his church and his recent work as a classroom teacher.

And, further speaking to Southern tradition, campaign volunteers handed out RC Colas and Moon Pies before and after the rally.

About 200 people gathered around tailgaters in the Concord High School parking lot for the speech, which lasted about half an hour.

Several of those who attended said they feel Kissell is the best candidate for the U.S. House seat currently held by Cabarrus native Robin Hayes.

"I've done a lot of reading on him and he seems to be a good person," said Jesse Hodges of Concord, who came to the rally with his wife, Joanne.

"He made a very good impression on us. And though he didn't say much about the war, we're disgusted by the war in Iraq," Hodges said. "We're losing our finest young men."

Angie Martinez of Kannapolis brought her four children to the rally. She's volunteered for the Kissell campaign by making phone calls and helping at the candidate's headquarters.

"I believe in him," Martinez said. "I believe in what he has to say. I feel that when I call on him as a congressman, I'll be heard."

Ann Lafferty, whose daughter is a student at Concord High, said she had already decided to vote for Kissell and that she came to the rally to meet John Edwards.

"I don't know everything about Larry Kissell, but I know all I need to know about Robin Hayes," Lafferty said. "I'd love to see a Democrat in that seat."

But during his remarks, Edwards spoke against partisanship and asked his audience to focus instead on choosing the man they most wanted to fill the post.

"I love America more than I love the Democratic party," Edwards said. "I want to see our country looked up to and respected again."

Independent poll data released last week showed Kissel maintaining a slight margin over Hayes, but staffers and Kissell himself downplayed those numbers, saying that only election day matters.