Posted on 12/18/2009 11:52:00 AM PST by MitchellC
Still burning over Rep. Larry Kissell's health care vote, some Democrats in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District are courting a Charlotte attorney to mount a primary challenge.
The courtee is Chris Kouri, a former Ivy League football player who ran for the seat in 2002, upsetting a better known Democrat in the primary before losing to Republican Robin Hayes, Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports.
"I think it’s a legitimate groundswell," said Mecklenburg County Democratic chairman Joel Ford. "Chris Kouri is entertaining it. And I believe that if Chris gets enough grassroots support he’ll run."
Kouri, general counsel and director of community relations for Lowes Motor Speedway, declined comment. But the effort to unseat Kissell, a first-term Democrat in what was a district long-held by Republicans, underscores the lingering passion over health care.
Kissell, of Montgomery County, was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the health care bill that passed the House by five votes last month. He was one of just eight from a district carried by President Barack Obama last year.
A Kissell spokeswoman declined to talk about a possible challenge. "The Congressman is doing the people's business and is focused on that," said Haven Kerchner. "He has no comment on politics or his race next year."
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Democratic critics of Kissell's vote say they could change their minds if he ultimately votes for any bill that comes back to the House floor. But Kissell doesn't have to look far to find frustration.
"There’s probably a whole lot of people getting in line to run this time." said Ralph Bostic, chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. "A lot of people are probably dissatisfied with the way he voted on health care.”
Bostic is unsure whether even he still supports his congressman.
"I don’t know," he said. "I'm between two opinions."
The Republican primary is already a crowded field.
It doesnt matter who they put up, they’ll get steam-rolled in 2010!
He should switch parties.
I am torn.
While I think Kissell is a very beatable candidate which would be good for Republicans, I always love to watch Dems slugging it out in the primaries.
Hopefully, I can have both (Kissell wins in a contested primary and loses in the general).
It’s a long time repub seat that just went dem, the majority of folks are against zerocare, and the dumbasses want to run a guy against the dem in office because he voted against zerocare? Are you kidding me? LOL! With that sort of mentality the scum are gonna get their asses kicked, but good, next year.
The Green Party is no longer on the NC ballot. (Although it would be sweet to see him run as an independent if it becomes clear he’d lose the nomination...)
Kissell would make an awful Republican. In his ‘heart of hearts,’ I’m sure he wanted to vote for ObamaCare, but he knows the electoral reality of the district. Last thing he wants to do at this point is go back to supervising brats at a government school. :)
Joel Ford is also numbered among those that believe there will be a Richard Simmons Jr. someday.
Dem county chairmen are trashing Kissell in the press and putting out feelers for 2002 loser Chris Kouri.
It’s too bad that Republicans couldn’t find a first-tier candidate to run.
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