Wealthy challengers in two Charlotte-area congressional districts have pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into their races, giving them a financial edge over the incumbents and other rivals.
The incumbents, Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell in the 8th District and Republican U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry in the 10th, are the only incumbents in North Carolina to trail challengers in the money race, Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer reports.
New camaign finance reports show Republican Tim D’Annunzio has dumped $553,000 into his campaign to win the Republican nomination to challenge Kissell.
The Hoke County businessman already has mounted an aggressive advertising campaign in the district that stretches from Charlotte to Fayetteville. D’Annunzio still has $372,500 in the bank, more than Kissell and seven other N.C. incumbents. Kissell, of Biscoe, has $318,000.
In the 10th District, which runs west from Lincoln and Iredell counties to the foothills, Republican dentist Scott Keadle has loaned his campaign $250,000.
He has nearly $261,000 on hand compared to $149,000 for McHenry of Cherryville.
The reports, filed with the Federal Election Commission, came out a week before campaign filing starts in North Carolina, and three months before the May 4 primaries. They reflect money raised and spent through Dec. 31.
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