A new poll in the 8th Congressional District Republican primary shows no candidate close to the 40 percent needed to avoid a runoff.
The poll of 400 likely GOP voters by Diversified Research was commissioned by Harold Johnson, the longtime Charlotte TV sportscaster who now lives in Concord, the Charlotte Observer's Jim Morrill reports. Taken April 6-7, it showed Hoke County businessman Tim D'Annunzio at 20 percent, Johnson at 14, Hal Jordan of Charlotte at 9 and retired Army Col. Lou Huddleston at 6 percent. The margin of error is nearly 5 percentage points.
Results for the other two candidates, Lee Cornelison of Charlotte and Darrell Day of Hamlet, were not available. Both have trailed their rivals in fundraising and organization.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Larry Kissell, a first-term Democrat.
Campaign reports due out Thursday are expected to show D'Annunzio, who made millions selling his body armor company, has spent more than $800,000 of his own money in the race. If no candidate gets 40 percent, the top two finishers would face off in a June 22 runoff.
