NC-08: Kissell Leads by 11

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for the DCCC (9/28-29, likely voters):

Larry Kissell (D): 54

Robin Hayes (R-inc): 43

(MoE: ±4.9%)

Those are amazing numbers, and they also predict a Democratic rout at the top of the ticket: Obama leads McCain by 54-42 in the 8th District (a district that Bush won by 54-45 in 2004), and Kay Hagan leading Dole by 55-41.

This poll may be influenced by the recent financial crisis — banking and finance is a major employer in Charlotte — which has affected the area in a big way with Citi’s acquisition of NC-based Wachovia. So we might be seeing a bounce that could fade to some degree — but it does give you a good indication of the GOP on the brink of a meltdown here.

11 thoughts on “NC-08: Kissell Leads by 11”

  1. I know this poll was for the DSCC, but I’m very encouraged.  Hayes is a weasel, and most of the Eighth District (I grew up there) are very concerned about the credit crisis.  I’d be very surprised if Hayes wins this race.

  2. This is great!  Trading in Robin Hayes, textile tycoon, for Larry Kissell, social studies teacher, is one heck of a change.  How many school teachers are there in Congress?

  3. This is going to be one of the districts that Obama must win heavily if he has any hopes of winning statewide – large black population, economically depressed, manufacturing based. Given Obama’s tie or slight lead, him winning by 12 points (albeit a little high) isn’t quite out of the picture. And while the Kissel/Hagan numbers might be a little high as well, it’s safe to say all are ahead in this district.

  4. Conditions are changing rapidly in North Carolina, sure, so it’d probably make sense at this point for Kissell, Obama, and Hagan to be leading narrowly, but all of them by double digits?  Color me skeptical, until there are some more polls to back this up, anyway.

  6. The one and only. Here’s a excerpt about that from wikipedia

    Rep. Hayes has drawn heavy criticism for voting in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Hayes had earlier voiced his strong opposition to the measure, saying he felt it would cause further loss of textile industry jobs in his district. In the weeks before the vote, Hayes stated that he was “flat-out, completely, horizontally opposed to CAFTA,” saying that “it’s not in the best interests of the core constituency I represent,” and that “there is no way I could vote for CAFTA”. Hayes first voted “no” but was pressured at the last minute to change his vote by prominent House Republicans. The final tally was 217-215 with Hayes casting the deciding “yes” vote (a tie would have defeated the motion).[1]

    Hayes played a similar role in the passage of the Trade Act of 2002, which shifted some trade agreement authority from Congress to the President. Though Hayes had said “We’re a definite ‘no’ until we get some help on textiles,” he was lobbied hard by the White House and congressional leadership to vote for the measure. Hayes waited until the last minute before voting “yes,” and broke down in tears on the floor of the House.[2]

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