Last-Minute CU Boost Can't LiftCongressional Candidate

HICKORY, N.C. - (08/23/04) -- A unprecedented last-minute handfrom credit unions was not enough of a push for Sheriff DavidHuffman, who lost last week's Republican primary run-off to StateRep. Patrick McHenry by a mere 86 votes. Huffman, who immediatelyasked for a recount, was the recipient of a last-minute $50,000radio ad campaign by CUNA and the North Carolina CU League, as wellas a $5,000 CUNA PAC check, heading into last week's run-off. Thepreliminary vote count found Huffman, a long-time member of theadvisory board for North Carolina Local Government Employees FCU,with 49% of the vote, after leading the pack in the July 20 GOPprimary with 35%, to McHenry's 26%. However, McHenry was able todemand a run-off because neither candidate received 40% of the votein the primary. The $50,000 radio buy was only the third time CUNAand its state leagues have made so-called independent expenditureson behalf of a favored candidate, and the first time in aprimary.