Clay Aiken wins close primary race in North Carolina, results show
(CNN) – County results certified Tuesday show “American Idol” star Clay Aiken as the winner of a Democratic congressional primary in North Carolina by fewer than 400 votes, one day after his chief opponent died suddenly.
The results from the May 6 vote were certified by the counties showing that he won the 2nd Congressional District contest over Keith Crisco and a third candidate.
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Crisco, a respected businessman and a former top state official, died on Monday at his home.
The tally from the North Carolina Board of Elections showed Aiken with 11,678 votes, Crisco with 11,288, and Toni Morris, third with 5,616.
Until Tuesday, the contest was without a formal winner. Crisco’s campaign confirmed that he had planned to concede on Tuesday.
Aiken temporarily suspended campaign activities due to Crisco’s death.
"He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant," Aiken said in the tweet.
Aiken will meet Rep. Renee Ellmers, the two-term Republican who currently holds the seat, in November. He will face an uphill battle in the reliably conservative district, which is located in the central part of the state.
Ellmers, who was first elected in 2010 in a tea party-fueled wave, won re-election with 56% of the vote in 2012.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney beat President Barack Obama in the district by a 58-41 margin – an even wider margin than Romney bested Obama in the state overall, 50-48.
She handily defeated conservative talk-radio host Frank Roche in her primary.
CNN's Leigh Ann Caldwell and Mark Preston contributed to this report.
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Clay's heart is in the right place and I would vote for him if I were in N.C., but luckily I live in beautiful San Francisco.
Well i bet he needs a hug and a big oh wet juicy french kiss from a 7ft talll muscle man maybe on t.v. tonight i can hardly wait . Good luck clay your the ? man ? ?
We can only hope that the "celeb" will not win over the more qualified candidate, in the general election.
"Well i bet he needs a hug and a big oh wet juicy french kiss from a 7ft talll muscle man maybe on t.v. tonight i can hardly wait . Good luck clay your the ? man ? ?"
Seems you're less of a man than he is if you're so insecure in your own manhood that you had to go that route with your comment. Now, pick up your GI Joes and go put your jamjams on, it's time for your nappy.
Why is Ted Cruz smiling over he Government Shut Down $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ?
Good Luck Clay !
'Crisco’s campaign confirmed that he had planned to concede on Tuesday.' Isn't that carrying it a bit too far?
Quite impressive Dems.... He barely wins over a dead person! Don't the Dems know their own ruiles?! Dead people are only supposed to VOTE, not RUN!!
I love it when I can win any contest over a dead guy.
Really they should have someone else run again.
I have read headlines, but not seen a single picture of Clay. Is it the same guy from that tv show?
It just goes to show. All it takes to get Democrats to vote for you is celebrity and/or minority status.
El Warbo Grande
It just goes to show. All it takes to get Democrats to vote for you is celebrity and/or minority status.
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Low IQ voters use name recognition most of the time. It is why you get idiots like Franken, Aiken, kids of former politicians, Kennedy/Clinton dynasties, etc.
And all it takes to get a Republican to vote for you is an IQ less than Sarah Palin and Tan Boehner. I am amazed those 2 can even spell V.O.T.E.
Hey Chris-E how is that any different than if a guy won and now all he needs is a nice juicy french kiss from a hot attractive woman?
"I asked the exact same questions a few weeks ago... the crickets were deafening."
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Please don't start making the same false assumptions as "smith" and "tom l." Just because you do not see a reply does not mean anything. Most likely, no one read it, had opportunity to reply before the thread closed, or a reply was moderated away, just like the reply that I just made.
Rick McDaniel
We can only hope that the "celeb" will not win over the more qualified candidate, in the general election.
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People like you love to talk about qualifications and experience....and then people like you are the first ones who talk about the same tired people getting elected and why there is no fresh blood in Washington.
Look in the mirror. You are part of the problem.
Your right he is .
His opponent died yesterday, I expect that probably impacted voter turnout.
So we can't point out that his opponent died. Ok, thanks censors.
it must be said
Low IQ voters use name recognition most of the time. It is why you get idiots like Franken, Aiken, kids of former politicians, Kennedy/Clinton dynasties, etc.
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And yet, Jeb Bush is currently leading some GOP polls. But I'm sure the Bush name has zero to do with it, right? No "Bush dynasty", right?
Schwarzeneggar is a Republican too. How'd he do for California?
Your hypocrisy is laughable.
How about death of his opponent could have made a difference, does that meet the censorship standard?
Crisco was the better man, by far. Sad that name recognition carries so much weight in even a mid-term.
Still, neither had a chance in that district. I would just be less embarrassed for the Dems there had they put forward the guy with actual accomplishments.
El Warbo Grande
It just goes to show. All it takes to get Democrats to vote for you is celebrity and/or minority status.
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Give me a break.
Arnold Schwartzenegger (R) – actor before being a governor
Ronald Regan (R) – actor before being a governor and then president
Fred Thompsen (R) – actor before being a senator
Sonny Bono (R) – singer before being a congressman
Jack Kemp (R) – football player before being a congressman
Steve Largent (R) – football player before being a congressman
Need I say more? Celebrities from both sides of the aisle become politicians. Claiming it is only the Democrats is misinformed at best, and dishonest at worst.
El Warbo Grande:
"It just goes to show. All it takes to get Democrats to vote for you is celebrity and/or minority status."
Really? If I recall, Reagan was an actor, same with Schwarzenegger – and they are both Republicans – Comment FAIL!
Aiken is like Don Corleone...Don't mess with the dude. He will take you out if you get in his way.