Richmond County Daily Journal
Friday, February 15, 2008
www.yourdailyjournal.com

Kissell Files for U.S. Congress

Special to the Daily Journal

BISCOE — Democrat Larry Kissell officially filed to run for the 2008 contest for U.S. House in North Carolina's 8th District today. The teacher and former mill worker shocked the political establishment with one of the closest races in the nation last cycle, losing by just 330 votes to multi-millionaire, long-term incumbent Republican Robin Hayes, who outspent the first-time candidate more than three to one.

"As I've crossed the District this past year the sense of urgency for the upcoming elections is what strikes me the most," said Kissell. "Now that folks know we can win, and have tangible proof just how much one vote can impact the quality of life in this District, I'm confident change is on the horizon.

"The working families of this District remember it was Robin Hayes' one vote that defeated a badly needed $1,500 bonus for every service member in Iraq and Afghanistan; and it was Hayes' one vote that gave President Bush Fast Track Trade Authority, and his one vote that passed the crippling Central American Free Trade Agreement.

"They have also seen that with less than two more votes in each of the precincts in our district, they could have had a new Congressman. We've all seen the difference one vote can make."

Kissell spokesman Steve Hudson said Hayes currently trails Kissell 49 to 47 percent in the latest publicly released polling for the District and their campaign "Has raised more to date than we had up until 45 days before the 2006 election. As of today we've raised over $320,000 and we're ahead in the polls. This shows that folks in this District are committed to electing Larry Kissell in November."