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Kissell expands support in rematch with Hayes

By Josh Lanier | Independent Tribune

Published: November 6, 2008

U.S. Rep.-Elect Larry Kissell's 10-point victory over Rep. Robin Hayes Tuesday shows new voting trends in the 8th Congressional District.
In 2006, Kissell and Hayes split the votes, with Hayes only winning by 329 votes after a painstaking hand recount. But in 2008, Kissell took 155,691 votes — 55 percent — while Hayes collected 125,310.
After a massive voter registration drive pushed by President-Elect Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, Democratic candidates faired better in the Tar Heel State. Kay Hagan ousted Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bev Perdue beat Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.
Driving a large portion of that increase was the push for One Stop Voting, otherwise known as early voting, which favored Democrats 54 percent to 29 percent, the Associated Press reported.
In 2006, Hayes won four of the 10 counties in the 8th District, but only two in 2008. Kissell picked up large swaths of voters in rural areas and made gains in Mecklenburg County where he won handily in 2006.
In Cabarrus County, 64 percent of the registered voters cast ballots, compared to only 34 percent in 2006. Hayes carried his home district, but Kissell picked up four percentage points from last election, losing the election by a 42 to 58 percent margin.