The N&O‘s Under the Dome reports that one of Larry Kissell’s challengers has more money in the bank than the one-term incumbent does.
Kissell, a Democrat representing North Carolina’s 8th congressional district, has $318,000 on hand. One of six Republicans mounting a challenge, Tim D?Annunzio, has $372,500. D?Annunzio has poured reams of his own cash into the race.
Although the 8th is staking up to be the most competitive congressional race in North Carolina this year, the funding difference isn’t too big a deal. Former 8th District Congressman Robin Hayes out-raised Kissell two-to-one in 2008, but Kissell ended up offing him by a comfortable 55 percent to 45 percent margin.
Kissell did benefit from substantial support from out of state ? and, of course, Obama’s coattails. But the money race, while important, is less important than the national political tide and local anger, as proven in 2008.
