The Republican 8th District congressional candidate Richard Hudson was joined by prominent Texas Congressman Mike Conaway during a campaign visit to a Laurinburg farm on Tuesday.
Meeting with farmer Eddie Carmichael and other agriculture workers, Hudson and Conaway took shots at the president and at Hudson’s Nov. 6 opponent, incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell.
“The president has been AWOL on leadership,” said Conaway to the farmers, who were openly critical of Democratic leadership at the federal level.
Conaway, a Republican representing the 11th District, serves as chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.
Saying that he was “sorry for the stump speech,” Hudson attacked Kissell for offering “no solutions in four years” to the country’s economic woes.
“We have got to make changes,” Hudson said, taking a swipe at Kissell’s comments at a recent debate that Hudson wants to “gut Medicare.”
“Every year we wait (to solve the Medicare problem) it will cost us more money when we eventually do try to solve it,” Hudson said.
Hudson supports allowing younger people to opt-out of Medicare in favor of more market based alternative, which Hudson says would drive down the costs of health care by increasing competition.
At last month’s AARP debate on the campus of Wingate University Kissell said that he “believes in keeping the promise of Medicare and Social Security,” implying that he would not support allowing for market-based alternatives.
Conaway also took a moment to express his support of Hudson.
“I back (Hudson) 110 percent,” Conaway said. “I trust his judgment and know he will represent this part of North Carolina very well, specifically on agriculture issues.”
Before touring Carmichael’s farming operation, which harvests nearly a dozen types of crops, the group also discussed alternative energy sources and the United States farm bill, which among other functions serves to regulate American milk prices.
According to Conaway, if the farm bill is not completed and passed by January milk prices in the United States could soar.
Endorsement
Hudson’s campaign stop in Scotland County comes a day after Kissell received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.
Having received an “A” rating from the NRA for his legislative record, Kissell received the nod from the pro-gun organization for the second time in his career. Kissell was first endorsed by the NRA in 2010.
“I firmly believe in standing up for and protecting our Second Amendment rights,” said Kissell in a statement. “I’ll continue to fight each and every day to preserve our fundamental and constitutional right to bear arms. I’m proud to be a strong advocate for gun owners and sportsmen across this district, and I thank the NRA for their support once again.”
According to Hudson’s campaign, he has received a similar endorsement from the Gun Owners of America organization. Hudson is a lifelong member of the NRA, according to his campaign website.
The two are scheduled to face off today during a candidates forum at the Pinecrest Country Club in Lumberton. Sponsored by the Lumberton Chamber of Commerce, the Lumberton Rotary club and the Lumberton Kiwanis club, the forum will take place over lunch from noon until 1:30 p.m.
























