Former ‘American Idol’ Wants Your Vote

05 Feb, 2014

Former “American Idol” and “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Clay Aiken joined another high-profile contest Wednesday – this one to get elected to Congress in his native North Carolina.

Aiken announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers. The entertainer is talking about his non-singing career as a special education teacher, UNICEF representative and presidential commission member on education while explaining his reason for getting in the race.

In each situation, “I saw a group of people, a population that was not being served,” Aiken told The Associated Press in an interview.

In a video unveiling his bid, Aiken referred to his “golden ticket” – finishing as the runner-up to Ruben Studdard in TV’s 2003 “Idol” competition, which has led to several albums and a role in a Broadway musical. But he said he empathizes with those struggling in the 2nd District where he lives, referring to his upbringing by a mother who fled domestic violence.

“For most Americans, there are no golden tickets – at least not like the kind you see on TV,” he says to the camera. “More families are struggling today than at any time in our history, and here in North Carolina, we’ve suffered more than our share of pain.”

Aiken, 35, is expected to face former state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco of Asheboro and licensed professional counselor Toni Morris of Fayetteville in the Democratic primary in May. Another Democratic hopeful – Houston Barnes of Durham – gave up his bid Wednesday and threw his weight to Aiken. Official candidate filing begins next week.

Aiken said that he considers Washington dysfunctional and that he would focus on jobs, the economy and education. He said the federal health care law needs to be changed but shouldn’t be repealed. He supports abortion rights and considers his political philosophy in the broad middle between political extremes – he said he was once a registered independent voter.

AP

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