The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a new Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner poll today conducted September 28-29 that shows Larry Kissell leading Representative Robin Hayes by 11 points

By Suzi Carter, Richmond County Daily Journal

Richmond County welcomed former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt to a Kissell for Congress dinner and rally at the Rockingham Speedway on Tuesday. Larry Kissell is the Democratic congressional candidate for North Carolina's 8th district, challenging Republican incumbent Robin Hayes.

Hunt and Kissell shook hands with supporters and greeted old friends in the Speedway garages before the rally began. Hunt explained why he supports Kissell in his race to the House of Representatives.

"This is a county of hard working people, that's why having a congressman who supports raising minimum wage is important," Hunt said before the rally began. "That's why we need a congressman who doesn't want to privatize Social Security, who doesn't want to send industry overseas. And that's the biggest difference between Larry Kissell and Robin Hayes."

Larry Kissell, Democratic Congressional Nominee in North Carolina's 8th District, today released internal polling results that show him leading incumbent Congressman Robin Hayes 45%-43% in an initial head-to-head match up. Showing Kissell's strength, the poll was taken at the same time Hayes was airing deceptive, negative ads against Kissell.

At least for a day...

Larry Kissell, the Democratic Nominee for Congress in North Carolina's 8th District, is all over TV news, news wires and political blogs this morning, after helping hundreds of struggling motorists on Father's Day with $1.22 per gallon gas, the price when Robin Hayes first took office. All indications point to one thing - this race is heating up, and will be the one to watch in November.

Just look what people were saying about the campagn at yesterday's event:

Your support and hard work to take back our seat in North Carolina's 8th District is paying off. We're up in the polls and were just named a true "Toss Up" by the nonpartisan Cook Report.

Analysts with The Cook Political Report, an independent newsletter that researches elections, has ranked the 8th Congressional District a toss-up.

Two years ago, Rep. Robin Hayes, a Republican from Concord, fended off Democratic challenger Larry Kissell by 327 votes. The race garnered 121,523 votes...

The Cook Report just a month ago had rated the 8th District as "leaning Republican." On June 5, it was moved to the toss-up category.

That's what Robin Hayes said. Doesn't it make you see red? He told the Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools"You need me more than I need you."

Really, it is documented in two Montgomery Herald articles.

Hayes challenging " You need me more than I need you!" to a Montgomery County Superintendent , was a Robin Hayes most of us had never seen. It exposed him as the politician, much like when he switched his vote, not once but twice to help President Bush pass a bill that hurt workers in the 8th district by just one vote. This was the Robin Hayes who inspired high school teacher Larry Kissell to run for Congress in the first place.

Why bring this up? Yesterday Hayes visited Montgomery County to discuss education (before heading to a country club to raise money for his campaign) . Apparently, he found out that maybe he does need the people of Montgomery County now that he is down in the polls. For too long he has played politics rather than help prevent the problems the community faces.

Remember, it goes far beyond his hypocrisy on education issues. Only two other Members out of the entire House and Senate have more stock in companies making money off the war in Iraq than Robin Hayes. We all know he is consistently listed as one of the wealthiest Members of either the House or Senate, but his investment in the war is really shocking.

Kissell Committed to Sound Energy Policy, Creation of Green-Collar Jobs

The League of Conservation Voters, which works to turn environmental values into public policy, announced the endorsement of Larry Kissell for election to North Carolina's 8th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.