The Charlotte Observer
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
www.charlotte.com

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER IN CHARLOTTE

Democrats regret not supporting Kissell in '06
Hoyer: Party leaders `made a mistake' in race to unseat Hayes

By JIM MORRILL

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Monday that party leaders "made a mistake" in not supporting 8th District Democrat Larry Kissell's 2006 bid for Congress.

"Quite frankly we didn't focus on this race as much as we should have," Hoyer said during an appearance with Kissell at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.

Two years ago Kissell lost to Republican Rep. Robin Hayes of Concord by 329 votes. He's been running ever since, and kicked off his latest campaign with a Monday night rally in his hometown of Biscoe.

Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, met Kissell before heading off to headline a Charlotte City Club fundraiser for Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of Western North Carolina's 11th District.

In 2006, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee gave early backing to Fayetteville Democrat Tim Dunn, who dropped out before the primary. Kissell's performance against an opponent who outspent him by $1.7 million got the DCCC's attention.

Hayes already has raised $864,000 toward his next campaign. Kissell has raised $269,000 -- at least $115,000 coming from political action committees and Democratic House members allied with the DCCC.

Charlotte Democrat John Autry, who lost the 2006 primary, also has announced for the seat.

Hoyer predicted 2008 would be a Democratic year. But polls have shown growing disapproval of the Democratic-controlled Congress. An ABC News/Washington Post Poll last week, for example, found 65 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing.

"They're upset with the Congress, I'm upset with the Congress," Hoyer said. "We passed a lot of very good legislation that has fallen on the shoals of Republican obstructionism."