NC-08: McCrory Won't Challenge Kissell

[ccharles000]

A major bullet dodged for Larry Kissell:

A rendezvous at a Concord barbecue joint Tuesday helped change the political outlook in North Carolina's 8th Congressional District.

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory met to talk about next year's House race. As the two sipped Diet Cokes, Hayes asked McCrory the question he'd asked before: Would the mayor run?

No, McCrory replied.

"It was obvious that he wasn't going to do it now," Hayes said, "so I needed to get out of the way and let the primary develop so we can win the general election."

McCrory is staying publicly mum for now, but the Charlotte Observer reports that he's told "party insiders" not to expect a race out of him. McCrory likely would have been the strongest possible candidate the GOP could cough up here, but it looks like it's back to the drawing board for the NRCC.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5451/nc08-mccrory-wont-challenge-kissell