Cross-posted from NC House Races
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This article in today's New York Times represents an interesting attempt at balance.  The first part of the article highlights the Kissell campaign's focus on Hayes' about-face on CAFTA:

As if by chance, though probably not, both candidates are linked to the old mill. Charles Cannon, legendary founder of the Cannon textile empire and grandfather of Representative Robin Hayes, the Republican incumbent, built it in the 1920's, and Mr. Hayes worked summers there as a youth.

Larry Kissell, his Democratic opponent, worked there for 27 years before becoming a high school teacher in 2001, when, he says, he saw "the handwriting on the wall" about its future. Now his campaign is organized around the threat of foreign competition and Mr. Hayes's tiebreaking vote last year for a trade accord with Central America.

"The No. 1 issue voters care about this year is jobs," Mr. Kissell said Monday as he campaigned door to door in a neighborhood near the rubble-strewn field where the Kannapolis mill once stood. "We have lost 10,000 jobs in the textile industry here in the last several years. Free trade has not been good for this district."

Cross-posted from Pennsylvania Senate 2006
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As this piece from yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer details, this year's Pennsylvania Senate race appears to have stalled. Casey is running out the clock with a Rose Garden campaign and raising money at a furious pace so he can keep up with Santorum's media buys. Meantime, Santorum is throwing everything he can think of at his challenger - corruption, immigration, the charge that Casey is simply trying to inherit political success from his famous father - in the hopes that something sticks. So far, nothing has, and the incumbent is in the doldrums, with poll numbers that have never risen above the low 40s.

Expect fireworks this Thursday in Pittsburgh, as the candidates meet for the first of three remaining debates. Santorum should make a play to raise the temperature on the comfortable Democratic frontrunner, and we'll have a chance to see whether or not Casey can take the heat. Personally, I expect only the best from Casey - if nothing else, he's shown an amazing ability to stay on message and to respond quickly and effectively to all of Santorum's attacks. It should be good.

Oh, and don't forget -- superstar Illinois Senator Barack Obama does an event with Casey in Pittsburgh this Wednesday.

--NCProsecutor

Cross-posted from NC House Races 2006
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As I wrote here, Charles Taylor has seen the writing on the wall and has decided to try a Hail Mary pass - he's declared that he is ready to debate his Democratic challenger, Heath Shuler. It would mark the first time Taylor has debated an opponent since 1994.

That is, if it actually happens. The campaigns have apparently deadlocked over the date of the proposed debate - Taylor wants October 29th, Shuler wants November 1st.