Politics

He Might Win Something: American Idol’s Clay Aiken Up By 372 Votes In Democratic Primary

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Clay Aiken is up by just 372 votes in his congressional race that is still too close to call the morning after the election.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, the reality show contestant – who famously lost to Ruben Studdard on “American Idol” in 2003 – is on track to become the Democratic nominee in North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district.

But because of the slim margin over Democrat Keith Crisco in Tuesday’s primary, the race has yet to be called. AP results on Wednesday morning show Aiken with 11,649 votes to Crisco’s 11,277.

Aiken is from Raleigh and is openly gay. If he ultimately wins, Aiken will face Republican incumbent Rep. Renee Ellmers in November.  He would be seen as a long shot in this race: In 2012, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney carried the district with 57 percent of the vote.

Speaking to supporters late Tuesday, Aiken referenced his American Idol past, saying, according to ABC News, he “prefer(s) it when they just open the envelope and tell you who won.”

After his second-place finish on American Idol, Aiken signed a record contract and released the love song “Invisible,” which curiously went: “If I was invisible, then I could just watch you in your room.”

Watch Aiken’s “Invisible” music video:

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Alex Pappas