Clay Aiken Wins NC Dem Congressional Primary

[undeterred]

Source: Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — "American Idol" entertainer Clay Aiken has won what had been a hotly contested Democratic primary for a North Carolina congressional seat.

The county-by-county unofficial tally posted by the state Tuesday of the 2nd Congressional District race confirms Aiken got more than 40 percent needed to win in the three-candidate race. It came a day after his closest rival died suddenly in a home accident.

The results from the May 6 primary will become official after a review by the state elections board. Elections board spokesman Joshua Lawson says that meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 22.

Second-place finisher Keith Crisco died on Monday. His campaign manager, Christine Botta, says Crisco had decided just before he died to concede his loss to Aiken.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/clay-aiken-wins-nc-dem-congressional-primary

[Renew Deal]

1. Nobody better mess with Aiken

[liberal N proud]

2. Good thing since his opponent died yesterday

That would have created a whole new mess.

[Sunlei]

3. Mr.Aiken always spoke well of & was friends with Keith Crisco. Must be a 'happy and sad time for all

[AngryAmish]

18. Michael kissed Fredo.

[Zen Democrat]

4. Clay's campaign song for general: Walk Away, Renee

I think Renee Ellmers is vulnerable. Even her Republican constituents don't like her.

[CTyankee]

5. I kinda like the guy from what little I have seen of him...

I'm glad to see some progressive movement in the the South. It's time...it really is...maybe folks are waking up...

[catbyte]

12. The only thing I don't like about him is that in an interview he said he hates cats.

I just don't trust anybody who hates cats!

[karmaqueen]

14. I had problems when he said that too but it is more fear than hate..

I am an animal lover and when I heard him say that years ago I was extremely bothered.. I found out that when he was young he accidentally hit a kitten with a car and had to watch it die. He said it traumatized him and he relives the incident when he sees a cat.. I think Clay is smart and has a good heart.. I do not think he really hates any animal.. at least I hope not..

[Earth_First]

6. Another millionaire politician...

based on celebrity name recognition.

Not real thrilled about the idea.

[xxqqqzme]

7. suggest you view

before passing judgment.

[Earth_First]

8. Alright I'll listen...

I appreciate the link.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Wow! Very powerful.

[undeterred]

11. He's exactly the kind of person I would like to see in Congress.

I don't hold his celebrity against him - he's very talented, and I hope he does well.

[laureloak]

13. You should take a closer look at Clay.

Clay Aiken is amazing. He is smart, informed and connects with people. The best speaker I've ever heard in person including John Edwards and John Kerry.

[struggle4progress]

16. I hope Aiken stays busy campaigning in the next 6 months:

the 2nd District seems rather conservative to me

The Republican primary pitted crazy rightwing incumbent Renee Elmers against Tea Party favorite Frank Roche -- who attacked her as inadequately conservative: Roche grabbed 15K votes and Ellmers 21K

The Democratic primary pitted Clay Aiken against the (now deceased) Keith Crisco -- who was more conservative but actually had some political experience: Aiken and Crisco both took 11K votes

So there was about 50% more interest/turnout for the R primary in the 2nd District than in the D primary there

The 2nd District is a gerrymandered PoS, which rather wanders over the map and was constructed to facilitate Republican victory: getting a good handle on it may be tricky

But we might get some idea of where we're headed from the May 2012 vote in NC to add a ban on gay marriage to the state constitution; here are the county-by-county results:



And here are the Congressional Districts:

?v=1386127146

IIRC the actual polling suggested registered NC voters opposed the amendment by a slight margin, but the vote itself was held IN A PRIMARY ELECTION: most folk simply didn't care enough to vote; enough rightwingers turned out, and enough progressives sat on their wumps, to lead to a crushing defeat

And this is the problem that Aiken faces. If he wants to take the 2nd District from Ellmers in November, he'll have to work hard to grab it, by figuring out how to appeal to conservative voters there: it won't simply fall into his lap, and he can't simply from time to time say things that we progressives want to hear -- he needs a plan today, and he needs to start putting his plan into action today

[MFrohike]

15. Maybe not

That was my first thought. He ran one commercial throughout the primary campaign, which played a lot less than Crisco's multiple commercials. He also gets very high marks from the voters who have gone to see him on his campaign stops. He's been all over the 2d district, meeting with groups as few as 10 people in a restaurant. Everybody who's met him, including the right wingers, have walked away impressed because he's very serious about this campaign. I can't say whether he'd make a good representative, though nearly anybody would be better than Ellmers, but I don't think he'd just be a celebrity in Congress. And just to make it more interesting, as of last week, he'd only loaned 50k to his campaign. That 50k added about 20% to his reported warchest. It doesn't look like he's trying to buy the seat, either.

[YOHABLO]

10. I think it's great that he wants to make a difference .. we need more people in politics like him.

[laureloak]

17. Proof that Clay Aiken, Congressman, is growing on people in NC

http://www.ncspin.com/2014/05/09/aiken-for-the-win/

[Vinca]

19. I rarely support "celebrity" politicians, but Clay Aiken is perfect for Congress.

He's well educated, smart, compassionate and can speak well to the issues. Maybe he'll be the one to convince the sheeple not to vote against their own self interest.

[Jefferson23]

20. Recommend. n/t