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Richard Hudson and his wife Renee greet their supporters after the race was called. Photo: Tanner Latham The Republican primary run-off in the 8th Congressional District turned into a runaway victory for Richard Hudson. He beat Scott Keadle by 27 points and now sets his sights on incumbent Democrat Larry Kissell. Richard Hudson began his primary election victory speech with a two-word message for his next opponent. "Larry Kissell, game on." The Concord resident has a long resume of Capital Hill positions. So, it wasn't a big surprise that independent groups tied to Washington insiders rallied around him. They poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into TV ads attacking Hudson's opponent Scott Keadle. But Keadle - a Salisbury dentist and former Iredell County Commissioner - wasn't exactly scouring couches for loose change. Groups aligned with the Tea Party spent almost an equal amount on ads in his favor. The two candidates also stood on similar footing when it came to issues, such as health care reform, immigration law, and military spending. So, for Hudson supporters it came down to something else. "It think the big differences are just the person," says Brandon Lowery. "I think Richard is just a strong leader. I don't think Scott is a very strong leader." Hudson heads into the general election with an advantage over two-term Democrat Larry Kissell, thanks to redrawn boundaries that make the 8th district more Republican.