An early poll suggests that incumbent Republican Robin Hayes can be beat by Democrat Larry Kissell in the race for North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District. Kissell, a high school social studies teacher and former textile industry executive, is fresh from a solid primary win, and is using the web to connect with Democratic activists. He's blogging on the DailyKos site.
He says Hayes is particularly vulnerable in this district where the textile industry is shrinking. Hayes was a strong supporter of the China-U.S. textile trade agreement, and the Central America Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. market is already flooded with foreign textiles, Kissell says, and the U.S. textile industry has been crippled. Now that Iraq war veteran Tim Dunn has dropped out the race, the Democrats aren't likely to have a seriously contested primary fight, and Kissell can concentrate on getting known in the district.
Southern Dem blog posts a lot of information about Larry, his campaign, and platform. Follow news of the race. Another spot to catch news of the race is BlueNC.com. I note that Kissell has, so far, raised 25 percent of his (modest) total funds online. He'll need to raise AT LEAST $231,263 -- that's what Beth Troutman raised for the race against Hayes in 2004, and she got 45 percent of the vote -- meaning he'll need to raise AT LEAST $65,000 online, if not $100,000 to be successful.
History may repeat itself in congressional elections this year. This may be the best year for Democrats to make gains in Congress since shortly after Richard Nixon resigned in 1994, and a group of reform-minded "Watergate babies" went to Washington. I grew up in the 8th district, and cut my political teeth volunteering in campaigns for Congress there. It's one of those swing districts that has a majority Democratic registration, but often votes for Republicans on the presidential level.
In the 1960s, it was represented by a conservative Democrat, Alton Lennon. When Lennon retired, in 1968, Catawba College Basketball Coach Earl Ruth rode Richard Nixon's coattails to ease out businessman Voit Gilmore to represent the district for six years. I remember encountering Ruth at a forum with fellow high school students. We were highly exasperated by his comparisons of the Vietnam War to a basketball game, and pointed out to him that in a basketball game there's a time limit and no one gets killed. He never seemed to get it, supporting the Vietnam War 'til the very end. Ruth, who boasted of his close relationship with President Nixon, was swept out of office in 1974. President Ford rewarded him for being a loyal Republican by appointing him ambassador to American Samoa, where he became subject of ridicule by "Doonesbury" cartoonist Gary Trudeau. The "Watergate baby" who defeated him was Bill Hefner, a gospel music station host, who held the seat for 20 years. Hayes followed Hefner, and has held the seat for the last 12 years. But this year, he looks quite vulnerable.
