CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dueling news conferences held not just within minutes of each other — but feet! That’s how the 9th district special election race is getting started between Republican nominee Dan Bishop and Democrat Dan McCready.

Marine veteran McCready, in a way, re-launched his campaign Wednesday, a day after North Carolina state Sen. Dan Bishop's sweeping victory in the 9th district special election Republican Primary.

Mark Harris beat McCready back in November by 905 votes. The State Board of Elections declined to certify Republican Mark Harris as the winner due to allegations of election fraud.

“I'm sure, like me, you are thrilled that we finally have an election,” McCready said to re-energized supporters. “Thank you for standing with me, been a long road. We're standing right by you.”

Also standing not far away, actually just outside McCready's south Charlotte campaign headquarters, was nominee Bishop.

“I wish Dan would come out here and answer these questions that I'm going to ask today,” Bishop told his base.

The Bishop campaign scheduled a post-election news conference 30 minutes before McCready's. Bishop even had a McCready cardboard cut-out by his side.

“Coming out to this location, Dan McCready's political headquarters and say come out. Let's have the discussion. Let’s talk about where you stand, I'll be glad to say where I stand,” Bishop said.

Sen. Bishop says his opponent refuses to take a position on tough issues and supports those on the far left.

“Who do you support for president in 2020? I support President Trump. Does Dan McCready pledge to support the Democratic nominee, even if it’s a socialist like Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren,” Bishop asked.

“We're up against a lot of insider career politicians. We're up against people that have cheated and conducted the largest case of election fraud in recent American history,” McCready said.

Just like the shift McCready is hoping for in the 9th district, which hasn’t seen a Democrat representative in 56 years, McCready shifted the conversation away from his rival.

“We need to be lowering health care costs, protecting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, investing in our public schools, defending Medicare, and creating good jobs,” McCready said.

Sen. Bishop doesn't see these as political antics, but a difference on policies.

“Contrast and clarity on issues, and that's exactly what we're going to do,” he said.