CONCORD – Eighth District political campaigns may be taking a breather for the moment, but they have a lot of intra-party healing to do before November.

For incumbent Larry Kissell, he is running on his record from his first term in Congress, which includes a no-vote on the health care reform law.

Meanwhile, GOP candidate Harold Johnson has his work cut out for him, trying to win Tim D’Annunzio’s supporters to back him against Kissell.

That may be easier said than done.

Independent Tribune

Boy, you can say that again.  That was one of the most brutal primaries I’ve ever seen.  Seriously, Hollywood could not have written something so absurd.  The cast of characters in this whole ordeal may as well have been straight out of a Monty Python flick.

Honestly, I don’t think Johnson will have as hard of a time getting D’Annunzio supporters to go with him in November as some may suspect.  If conservatives really want the Democrats out of the majority that badly, they’re going to vote for him even if they do so grinding their teeth.  This could be a good opening for Thomas Hill, though, the Libertarian candidate.  If he could get the resources, he might be able to gather up some of the disaffected D’Annunzio supporters to back him.

Concord Democrat Wendell Fant announced today that he won’t run as a 3rd party challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell.

Fant said he decided to “put my family ahead of my own political ambitions.”

A group called N.C. Families First successfully petitioned election boards throughout the 8th District in support of Fant’s candidacy. Backed by the State Employees Association of North Carolina and the Service Employees International Union, the group opposes Kissell because of his votes against some major Democratic legislation, particularly health care.

Fant’s decision means the group will not appear on 8th District ballots this fall.

Charlotte Observer

Looks like Kissell caught a break.  N.C. Families First (yeah, right) is just a shadow puppet for the unions.  The far left has been up in arms over Kissell’s more moderate positions.  Apparently, they don’t understand that he represents a Republican leaning district and no Democrat could win that seat espousing the radical leftist views the unions would have them do.

On an interesting note, I think I know Wendell Fant.  I think he used to work in my office a few years ago.  At least I assume it’s the same guy.  How many Wendell Fants can there possibly be?

The point of the legislation would be to force corporations sponsoring a political ad to disclose their identity, even to the extreme of the CEO having to appear at the end of the ad in a disclaimer.  However, it’s the more ominous language in the bill that has raised the eyebrows of those in the blogosphere and questioning if this legislation could unconstitutionally impact us as well.  The issue is with the language.

Under the bill, the F.E.C. would have the authority to require disclosures regarding the funding of “coordinated communications,” defined in the bill as “a publicly distributed or disseminated communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate for Federal office” and is publicly distributed or disseminated within four months prior to an election. In other words, political ads. And this bill would specifically target those paid for by someone or some entity other than the candidates.

The bill specifically exempts certain forms of media from being considered “coordinated communications” and regulated by it, but blogs aren’t specifically listed.

OpenCongress

And that is what is sounding the alarm.  Here is the language of the bill stating who exceptions apply to.

‘(4) EXCEPTION- The term ‘covered communication’ does not include—

‘(A) a communication appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate;

There is no mention of blogs in the list of communication and there is no language specifically exempting the communication of a private individual like myself and others who write Web sites like this.

It’s uncertain if this bill will make it through the Senate. After all, as the saying goes the Senate is the place where legislation goes to die. If they do pass it then we have an open door to Stalinism right here in the United States.  Think it’s out of the question that the Federal government couldn’t abuse this law to shut down Web sites like this one and others that they feel are a threat to their power just like they do in countries like Iran, China, and Singapore?  Think again.

The following Congressmen from North and South Carolina voted for this bill today:

• Bob Etheridge (D-NC-02)
• David Price (D-NC-04)
• Larry Kissell (D-NC-08)
• Heath Shuler (D-NC-11)
• Brad Miller (D-NC-13)
• John Spratt (D-SC-05)
• Jim Clyburn (D-SC-06)

The following members voted against the act to preserve freedom of speech:

• G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01)
• Walter Jones (R-NC-03)
• Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05)
• Howard Coble (R-NC-06)
• Mike McIntyre (D-NC-07)
• Sue Myrick (R-NC-09)
• Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10)
• Mel Watt (D-NC-12)
• Joe Wilson (R-SC-02)
• Bob Inglis (R-SC-04)

CONCORD — On Monday, Republican congressional candidate Tim D’Annunzio fired back at GOP leaders who’ve spoken out against his controversial campaign, demanding that the chairman of the North Carolina GOP step down.

“Chairman Fetzer broke the Plan of Organization of the Republican Party by speaking against my candidacy,” he said. “I am officially calling for Chairman Fetzer to step down. He should resign the position.”

Charlotte Observer

D’Annunzio’s position isn’t really off base here.  As I mentioned in my post last night regarding the North Carolina GOP attempting to use allegations from D’Annunzio’s past to paint him as being insane, the Republican leadership may very well be cannibalizing their own.  If D’Annunzio wins the run off then Tom Fetzer has given Larry Kissell all of the ammunition he needs to be reelected and keep the seat in Democratic hands.  Isn’t it incumbent on Fetzer to do what he can to take the seat back for his party?  Undoubtedly, he believes that’s what he’s doing, but it’s quite a gamble.  D’Annunzio has the tea party backing and they’ve been having some success around the country.

“The allegations are unsubstantiated and come from second-hand sources,” D’Annunzio said. “The information printed in yesterday’s newspaper was fed to journalists by certain individuals who are afraid of independent, rugged individualists, like me, who refuse to bow down to those who hold the power and want control for themselves, because they’re more concerned with getting someone elected who will put their version of political party over the people.”

D’Annunzio has admitted to several personal failings in his blog, “Christ’s War,” including using drugs, and being arrested as a teenager and as an adult.

He focuses on his redemption now, he said. “Repentance means you turn around and go a different way.”

That’s another good point.  The accusations made against D’Annunzio by his ex-wife during their divorce proceedings were 15 years ago.  D’Annunzio has admitted to having some problems in his past, but assuming that it is all in the past does not the man then deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt?  The Republican Party is still controlled by the Christian right and isn’t forgiveness the Christian thing to do?  If D’Annunzio just went out two weeks ago and claimed to have discovered the Ark of the Convenent in Arizona then I’d say that’s fair game for his opponents to bring up, but to dredge up alleged statements from 15 years ago that really aren’t relevant to the campaign chalks up to dirty politics in my book.  I’m not on anybody’s side in this race, just playing devil’s advocate here and exposing some possible hypocrisy on behalf of the party apparatus.

All of this is indicative of why I don’t like the party establishment getting involved in primaries.  The tea party folks called Justin Thibault, the Cabarrus County Republican Chairman, a coward for remaining impartial on this.  I disagree.  He’s doing the right thing.  Let the people make their decision at the voting booth.  When the people nominate who they want next month, then the party should step in and provide their support.  The question is, if D’Annunzio wins how can the GOP and his campaign come together after being fractured wider than the Grand Canyon?

The point of the legislation would be to force corporations sponsoring a political ad to disclose their identity, even to the extreme of the CEO having to appear at the end of the ad in a disclaimer.  However, it’s the more ominous language in the bill that has raised the eyebrows of those in the blogosphere and questioning if this legislation could unconstitutionally impact us as well.  The issue is with the language.

Under the bill, the F.E.C. would have the authority to require disclosures regarding the funding of “coordinated communications,” defined in the bill as “a publicly distributed or disseminated communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate for Federal office” and is publicly distributed or disseminated within four months prior to an election. In other words, political ads. And this bill would specifically target those paid for by someone or some entity other than the candidates.

The bill specifically exempts certain forms of media from being considered “coordinated communications” and regulated by it, but blogs aren’t specifically listed.

OpenCongress

And that is what is sounding the alarm.  Here is the language of the bill stating who exceptions apply to.

‘(4) EXCEPTION- The term ‘covered communication’ does not include—

‘(A) a communication appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate;

There is no mention of blogs in the list of communication and there is no language specifically exempting the communication of a private individual like myself and others who write Web sites like this.  Now does that mean the Federal government will actually regulate the free political speech of bloggers?  I don’t know and sometimes I think they write these laws to be purposely ambiguous so nobody knows what the hell they are doing.  I can’t imagine that if they tried it would ever stand up in court.

I’ll keep an eye on this as it moves forward.  According to a press release I got from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s office, the House is set to begin debate on the Disclose Act next week and I don’t know what’s going to happen.  What I do know is that the Washington aristocracy is not going to shut me up no matter what Stalinist laws they try to pass and I know I’m not alone on that.  It will be a brutal blow back for them if they attempt to silence the free speech of the people.

North and South Carolina cosponsors of the Disclose Act are below:

• Jim Clyburn (D) SC-06
• Bob Etheridge (D) NC-02
• Walter Jones (R) NC-03
• Larry Kissell (D) NC-08
• David Price (D) NC-04
• Heath Shuler (D) NC-11

Should they be successful in their endeavor, I imagine it will not sit well with Democrats like Heath Shuler, Larry Kissell, Mike McIntyre, and Bob Etheridge who represent Republican leaning districts and will more than likely experience tougher reelection fights than normal this year. If all end up in close races losing a percent or two to a third party candidate could make the difference between victory or early retirement.

The stated goal of the North Carolina First Party is to “to give working families the ability to choose a candidate that will fight for their interests – or to identify Congressional candidates who will stay accountable to the needs of working families not Washington’s special interests.”  In other words, steal more and more money from your wealthier and more successful neighbors and hand it over to you even though you don’t deserve it.

As reported today in the Charlotte Observer, Kissell insists that his position has not changed and that he has no intention of supporting the current proposal in Congress and that is probably a good thing.  The American people are not seeing eye to with this administration.  Over half the country opposes the bill and almost two-thirds of Americans think it would be better to pass smaller incremental bills that address specific individual flaws in the system.

If Kissell were to change his mind and vote for the bill it will mark the end of his very short political tenure.  Hell, even if he doesn’t vote for it and it still passes it could seal his defeat.  The original House bill only passed by five votes so it’s hard to predict how this is going to turn out if the Democrats decide to proceed with reconciliation, but the word is the White House is putting on the pressure.

U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell was proud to report in a news release that despite the snow covering Washington, his office is open.

“My staff is dedicated to making sure our constituents are able to reach our office and receive the help they need,” Kissell said in a news release. “I applaud their determination and perseverance in getting into the office and getting it open despite this historic snowfall. While our DC staff was snowed in, our District staff made sure anyone contacting our offices received assistance but I’m proud our DC folks are back at their desks.”

The N&O

Wow. What great determination by Kissell and staff -volunteers all- to trudge through the snow and get to work for N.C.

Oh wait, that’s right. They’re not volunteers. This is their freaking job. Taxpayers are actually paying you to be there, Larry. Get over yourself, already.

The woman who chaired Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell’s two congressional campaigns has turned against him.

Dannie Montgomery, a teacher from Anson County who served as first vice chair of the N.C. Democratic Party, said in a news release that Kissell “has turned his back on the grassroots supporters who propelled him to office,” Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Under the Dome

Most of the bitching coming from the far left concerning Kissell is over his vote against the lack-of-health care bill.  Kissell did the right thing in opposing the bill because it is a complete and utter train wreck, but this is the problem when you are dealing with ideologues.  They don’t actually take the time to analyze the whole situation.  People like Dannie Montgomery are just peeved that Kissell didn’t tow the party line regardless of the harm it would have caused.  Apparently Montgomery and others expect Larry Kissell to walk through Congress with blinders on and be a rubber stamp for every single disaster that comes out of Congress just because it is the president’s idea.  Ironically, these are the same people that attacked Robin Hayes and other Republican Congressmen around the country for doing exactly that with George Bush.

Congressman Larry Kissell (D-NC-08) has had a stressful first year in Washington and it’s understandable.  He represents a district that leans Republican and has had to engage in a balancing act to keep the Republicans and conservative leaning independents in his district satisfied enough to reelect him this year, but not without pissing off his Democrat base.  On the surface it wouldn’t seem as if he’s been overly successful.  His potential Republican challengers are attacking him for voting with his party 96% of the time and his Democrat supporters are upset that he’s bucked his party on some major legislation, like the health care bill where Kissell voted no.

Critics on both sides fault Kissell’s record of voting with the majority of his party 96 percent of the time, more than North Carolina’s conservative Blue Dog Democrats – Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre – but less than the state’s five other Democratic House members.

Democrats wish he’d stuck with the party on more votes, such as health care. Republicans criticize him for sticking with it too much.

“He comes from a district that trends conservative irrespective of party affiliation, and he votes 96 percent with the speaker of the House,” said 8th District GOP candidate Lou Huddleston of Fayetteville. “It’s that 96 percent that represent his true colors.”

Charlotte Observer

However, Public Policy Polling shows that as of right now, he’s in decent shape for seeing a second term in Congress.  Up against all the Republican candidates Kissell polls relatively the same:  54 – 38 against Tim D’Annunzio, 55 – 37 against Lou Huddleston, 53 – 39 against Harold Johnson, and 55 – 39 against Hal Jordan.  It obviously won’t stay this way.  None of the four Republican candidates are statewide names so their name recognition is still low.  Once the Republican primary is over and a candidate is elected to run on the ticket in a head to head race against Kissell we will begin to see the numbers shift.  As of right now, however, he doesn’t seem to be affected by Obama’s or the Democrats’ growing unpopularity around the country which should give him some solace for now.

The one true swing congressional district in the state is the 8th, which stretches from Charlotte to Fayetteville.

Freshman Democrat Larry Kissell is already facing a divided party because of his vote against the Democrats’ health care plan. Edge Republicans.

News & Observer

Rob Christensen is no more a gifted psychic than I am, but his logic does hold.  Swing districts in landslide years are considerably vulnerable to flipping seats.  As Kissell won in 2008 due to voter frustrations with Republicans, he may well lose in 2010 due to voter frustrations with Democrats.  He has also fractured the far left of his base over his health care vote, even though he made the right decision on that.  The race will definitely be one of the most competitive in the nation and the NRCC is going to put every resource they can into winning it back.

On a semi-related note, Christensen gives the edge to the GOP taking over the North Carolina State Senate for the first time since Reconstruction.  I wrote about this myself a few days ago.  As they say, great minds think alike.

Some 8th District Democrats are courting a potential challenger to U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell, a sign of their continued frustration over his vote against a Democratic health care bill.

They’re wooing a Charlotte lawyer who ran for the seat in 2002. A Facebook page called “Draft Chris Kouri for the 8th District” says “Do more than simply tell Larry Kissell that you are ‘mad as hell (at him) and won’t take it anymore.’”

“It’s a legitimate groundswell,” said Mecklenburg County Democratic chairman Joel Ford. “Chris Kouri is entertaining it. And I believe that if Chris gets enough grass-roots support he’ll run.”

The Charlotte Observer

You gotta love those Dems… apparently not voting for the worst freedom-killing abomination to come out of Washington in recent memory makes you soft and a traitor. Jeeez…

Anyways, they can whine “grassroots” all they want. A broader look at the district-wide grassroots in the 8th ought to show anyone that Kissell is about the farthest left that district can go. Nominating an outright liberal in what should be a bad year for Dems is suicidal.

According to the Washington Examiner, the debt as a percentage of GDP has risen from 41% to 53% in just this past year alone.  At current projections the debt will reach 85% of GDP by 2018 and 100% by 2022.  Although, we may not even make it that far.

Long before the debt reaches such stratospheric levels, the commission warns, “Fears of inflation and a prospective decline in the value of the dollar would cause investors to demand higher interest rates and shift out of U.S. Treasury securities. The excessive debt would also affect citizens in their everyday lives by harming the American standard of living through slower economic growth and dampening wages, and shrinking the government’s ability to reduce taxes, invest, or provide a safety net.”

For those of you that ignorantly voted for President Obama last year, ask yourselves if this is the hope and change you expected to get.

Every Republican in North and South Carolina voted against fiscal bankruptcy.  They were joined by Democrats Mike McIntyre (NC-07) and Larry Kissell (NC-08).

Another Republican candidate has jumped into the race to secure the Republican nomination and rights to run against Congressman Larry Kissell of North Carolina’s Eighth District.  Harold Johnson, a former sports anchor for WSOC Channel 9 in Charlotte for 26 years officially announced this past Friday that he will enter the race as a Republican.  Johnson is also a retired U.S. Marine and pledges to run a clean campaign.  One hurdle he may face, however, is push back he may receive as being labeled a carpetbagger.  Johnson does not yet live in the Eighth District and he is already taking heat for it.

Fellow candidate Tim D’Annunzio released the following statement yesterday:

RAEFORD, NC – Tim D’Annunzio, Republican candidate for Congress in the 8th district of North Carolina, today denounced Howard Harold Johnson for his entry into the 8th district Congressional race. Johnson does not currently, nor has he ever, lived in the 8th district.

“Voters in our district, from Cumberland to Cabarrus County and in between, should be offended that a candidate who has never been a resident of this district is attempting to represent them in Washington,” said Tim D’Annunzio. “I have been a resident of Hoke County for thirty years and understand the dynamics of our district as it spreads from the military base at Ft. Bragg, to the financial hub of Charlotte.

“We don’t need a member of the biased, mainstream media representing our interests in Washington. Our community deserves better than that. What we need is someone who knows how to create jobs and get this country back on track to economic stability. As a small business owner, I have created hundreds of jobs right here in North Carolina and will push for lower taxes and less regulation to reduce unemployment and encourage economic growth.

“Mr. Johnson is an outsider who thinks his sports casting background will win him votes. Ironically, the vote he won’t get is his own. My message to him is clear – stay out of our district.”

Johnson’s campaign Web site is http://voteharoldjohnson.com/ and at the moment is a work in progress.

I want you to understand what this bill does.  It is going to cost in excess of $1.2 trillion over the next ten years.  This is all new spending on top of what our government spends today.  Bear in mind, we have a $1.7 trillion budget deficit this year alone an $11 trillion debt.  It’s actually even worse than that, though.  The $1.2 trillion figure is what the House reps are saying.  The CBO has a much, much larger price tag.

Senator Gregg: Updated CBO Estimate of House Bill Pulls Back the Curtain on Majority’s Intent to Grow Government by $3 Trillion

Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee today commented on the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) more detailed cost estimate of the manager’s amendment to the House health reform bill.

Senator Gregg stated, “The CBO estimate released last night finally sheds light on the smoke and mirrors game the majority has been playing with the cost of their health care reform proposal. Over the first 10 years, this legislation builds in gross new spending of $1.7 trillion – and most of the new spending doesn’t even start until 2014. Once that spending is fully phased in, the House Democratic bill rings up at more than $3 trillion over ten years.

“Additionally, this bill cuts critical Medicare and Medicaid funding by $628 billion, accounts for nearly $1.2 trillion in tax and fee increases and will explode the scope of government by putting the nation’s health care system in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. The $3 trillion price tag defies common sense – we simply cannot add all this new spending to the government rolls and claim to control the deficit.

“If we continue to pile more and more debt on the next generation, they will never be able to get out from under it. The health care system needs reform, but this massive expansion of government, financed by our children and grandchildren, is the wrong way to proceed.”

This bill will fine employers who do not provide health insurance to their employees.  This is a double edged sword.  Many small business, for one, don’t provide it because they can’t.  Of those companies that do, the fine that would be implemented by the Federal government will actually cost less than providing the benefits.  The obvious result is that many companies out there will simply drop employee health benefits and force them onto the public “option.”  Personally, I think this is by design because the Democrats have been very open about wanting a single payer government run health care system and that is exactly the path we will go down.

This bill will make your current insurance policy even more expensive.  Remember how the whole point of health care “reform” was to lower the cost.  Yeah, that’s out the door.  Taxes on medical devices and supplies as well as on insurance companies and mandates requiring them to cover anyone who walks through the door regardless of age or preexisting conditions will raise the price of your insurance.  This will put many more Americans on the public “option” because they won’t be able to afford the premium increase or their company will stop offering the benefits and just pay the fine.  We are headed towards a two-tiered health care system.  High quality health care for the elite rich of our nation who can afford to pay outside the public “option” and a watered down rationed system for the rest of us.

This bill was 1,990 pages long.  Everyone that voted for this bill doesn’t have the slightest clue what is in it.  They haven’t had it long enough to know and many of them have already admitted that they don’t read the bills anyway.

Probably the most destructive part of this bill is the individual mandate.  Never in the history of our nation, one that prides itself of personal freedom and liberty, has our government passed a law forcing the American people to  buy a product.  This is blatantly unconstitutional and I imagine that if the Senate companion bill passes with the same mandate, which it does possess, and this is signed into law there will be Constitutional challenges to this piece.   I want you to understand the ramifications if such a mandate is held up by the Supreme Court.  Going forward our government will have no limitation of powers.  Once they are told by the highest court in the land that they are allowed to tell us what to buy based upon the court’s interpretation of the Commerce Clause or providing the general welfare, they will have complete control over the American people.  Our nation as we know it today will be a thing of the past.  We are heading into a Soviet style government.  Make no mistake about it.

All Republicans in North and South Carolina voted against this bill.  Democrat Congressmen Larry Kissell, Mike McIntyre, and Heath Shuler also voted against the bill.

The following Democrats voted to throw you in the gulag if you don’t buy health insurance.

• G. K. Butterfield (NC-01)
• Bob Etheridge (NC-02)
• David Price (NC-04)
• Mel Watt (NC-12)
• Brad Miller (NC-13)
• Jack Spratt (SC-05)
• Jim Clyburn (SC-06)

The Obama Administration’s push for health care reform suffered a severe blow from North Carolina’s Eighth U.S. Congressional District after Democratic Rep. Larry Kissell announced he will vote “No” on the bill being presented.

In a statement, Kissell said the bill’s $399 billion in proposed cuts in Medicare benefits forced his hand.

“From the day I announced my candidacy for this office, I promised to protect Medicare,” he said in the statement. “I gave my word I wouldn’t cut it and I intend to keep that promise to the citizens of the Eighth District and the senior citizens of the nation.”

He continued to say he believes “comprehensive health care and insurance reform is necessary,” but could not vote for the bill as it is currently written.

Richmond County Daily Journal

This can be stopped, but the public has to take action. If your Congressman is a member of the Blue Dog coalition absolutely call their offices and tell them to oppose this bill.  In North Carolina we have two Blue Dog Democrats, Congressman Heath Shuler (NC-11) and Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC-07).

If your Congressman isn’t a member of the Blue Dogs, but still represents a moderate or Republican leaning district, like my Congressman, call them too. They are just as vulnerable to an angry public.  I would recommend contacting Congressmen Bob Etheridge (NC-02), Larry Kissell (NC-08),  and John Spratt (SC-05).  And even if you have an out of touch far left kook “representing” you in Congress, it doesn’t hurt to call them either. You might be surprised. And call the Republicans too, just to be sure.

If you don’t want to be thrown in jail for not buying a government approved health care plan, then you had better take some action. If you don’t you only have yourself to blame when intrusive government comes barreling down on you and your family.

Earlier this month, Larry Kissell joined 22 other members of Congress in petitioning leadership to provide a greater level of transparency in the House’s handling of legislation.

“We have always believed that transparency and openness are essential to a fair and working government…Rep. Brian Baird has put forward a proposal, H Res 554, which would prohibit the House from considering legislation that has not been made publicly available, via the Internet, to Members of the Congress and the general public for at least 72 hours. We strongly agree with the intent of this proposal.” (letter from Rep. Larry Kissell and 22 other members to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 10/5/09 )

That was then, this is now. When it was time to back up his words with his vote, Kissell balked.

“Larry Kissell proved once again that he prefers to let his party craft their big-government machinations behind a cloud of secrecy when he voted late yesterday to kill a measure that would have shined the light on important legislation. Kissell sided with his Democrat colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee to squelch a Republican amendment that would have required all committee legislation to be available online within 24 hours of consideration and all amendments to be available online within 24 hours of passage.” (see NRCC release below)

FOR AN EXPLANATION, CALL LARRY KISSELL AT (202) 225-3715

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL ANDY SERÉ AT (713) 806-7720

According to a press release sent out by Col. Lou Huddleston’s Congressional campaign, the Colonel pulled in $102,000 from 106 donors in a 35 day period.  That’s not too shabby at all for a political newcomer.  Huddleston is running for the Republican nomination in the race for North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, a seat now occupied by Congressman Larry Kissell who won it just last year.  The GOP hopes to retake the seat.

I think Huddleston’s chances are decent.  You’re always the underdog when going up against an incumbent, unless the incumbent has received really bad press or is in some kind of scandal.  Next year, however, is looking like it’s going to favor the Republican Party unless the job market takes a swing for the better, which I don’t think is going to be the case because the Obama Administration is not doing what it needs to do to make that happen.  The 8th is a Republican leaning district so it won’t be a walk in the park for Kissell to hang on, even with the advantage of incumbency.  He’ll need to pull in a lot of money for his campaign as well and Kissell is known for his weak fund raising prowess.  So far this election cycle Kissell has raised $406,000.