Democratic congressional hopeful Clay Aiken has released a new yard sign that is popping up across North Carolina’s second district. The sign is an attempt to reach across the party aisle and get voters to defeat incumbent Republican Renee Ellmers.
Aiken is down in the polls in one of safest congressional seats in the country, and Cook Political Report has the race listed at “Solid Republican.” Despite the disadvantage, Aiken, with the help of his new sign, is trying to convince Republicans to vote for him. (VIDEO: Clay Aiken Learns The Cupid Shuffle)
Clay Aiken’s new sign (Photo: WNCN)
The new sign, entitled “Republaieken,” which plays on “Republican” and his last name “Aiken,” is an attempt to show voters in the second district that Aiken can appeal to everyone, his spokesperson told WNCN.
Not everyone sees the new signs as an attempt at outreach, but a ploy to trick voters into believing Aiken is a Republican. “Who are they trying to fool?” North Carolina State University political science professor Steven Greene told WNCN. Greene went on to claim that while the district is heavily Republican, Aiken might be trying to make up some numbers in the polls, but he was “dubious” on how successful the new messaging will be. (RELATED: Clay Aiken Deleted Tweet About Punching Ann Coulter)
The latest Real Clear Politics poll has Aiken down by eight points and the two are set to debate on Monday, Oct. 6.