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#66: "I'm Clay Aiken, and I Approved This Message!"

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merrieeee

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@ABC11_WTVD: .@clayaiken releases statement on Keith Crisco's death: "He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant"

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FearofH2O Chairman

FearofH2O

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So very sad for everyone. My thoughts go to the Crisco family. I'm sure Clay's campaign staff as well as Crisco's campaign staff are in shock right now too. Rachel Maddow did a very sensitive and accurate report tonight. Good to see an impartial report.

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luckiest1 Stylist

luckiest1

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I spent last evening in the ER with a friend, where we watched the tweets roll in about this. So shocking, and such a weird turn of events. I am sorry for his family's loss. I am glad to read that he told his aides he was going to concede today, though. I didn't want this to turn into "Clay only won because he died" in the press.

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FearofH2O Chairman

FearofH2O

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Couchie, maybe impartial wasn't the right word but she seemed sincere and not just reporting it for the sensationalism of it. It was more of an obituary as it should be.

My youngest son met Mr Crisco at several Economic Development conferences and was very impressed although they are in different political parties. He did a lot for the state of NC and hope that is what he will be remembered for and not for this campaign. My thoughts go to Clay also for this horrible turn of events.

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jmh123 Chairman

jmh123

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According to the N&O it's a done deal:

Aiken maintains lead; is official Democratic nominee for Congress

RALEIGH — Clay Aiken will be the Democratic nominee facing Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

The final canvassing of votes – a tally of Election Day plus absentee and provisional ballots in nine counties – came the day after runner-up Keith Crisco died in a fall at his home in Asheboro.

If Tuesday’s canvass had narrowed the difference between Aiken and Crisco to no more than 1 percent of the total votes cast or brought Aiken’s total to under 40 percent, Crisco could have called for a recount had he lived.

The margin didn’t narrow. In fact, Aiken gained 21 votes on Crisco and received 40.86 percent of the vote.

But Crisco’s death made the final outcome irrelevant.

State elections officials said the situation was highly unusual. The law is clear on what happens if a candidate dies between filing for office and the primary election; and it covers what happens if a candidate dies after the primary but before the general election.

But this narrow area where the deceased candidate was in between is something state law doesn’t directly address. The law requires the runner-up to call for a recount, which would not have been possible in this case.

Crisco had realized the outstanding ballots were not going to change the outcome of the election, and he planned on conceding to Aiken on Tuesday morning, before canvassing began.

The state Board of Elections will certify the results of the election on May 22.

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jmh123 Chairman

jmh123

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And the media moves on..... picture with article is headshots of Clay and Ellmers

Clay Aiken Awaits Dem Nod for Long Shot Challenge to GOP

Clay Aiken Awaits Dem Nod for Long Shot Challenge to GOP

Shushannah Walshe

May 13, 2014 1:21pm

Clay Aiken appears to be assured of winning the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House race following the death of his primary opponent, but he remains a long shot to unseat Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers in the conservative district.

Aiken, 35, may be getting a lot of attention thanks to his 2003 American Idol runner up status, as well as by the death of his Democratic rival Keith Crisco this week while votes were still being counted.

But the chances of victory are considered to be slim. Mitt Romney won the district 58 percent to 41 over President Obama, a wider margin than Romney won the state overall, which was 50 percent to 48 percent.

"This is a midterm election when a lot of core Democratic voters including young people and minorities stay home opposed to core Republican voters who happen to be white and older," North Carolina State University political science professor Stephen Greene told ABC News. "It is really tough for any Democrat to win this district, especially this year."

Ellmers, 50, has held the seat for two terms and is popular with the Tea Party. She was elected in the 2010 conservative wave that gave Republicans the majority in the House. It's likely Republicans could try and use Aiken's celebrity against him, but Greene says his higher name recognition than a traditional Democratic challenger will "absolutely" help.

"It's tough for any Democrat, but the truth is your typical challenger in a race like this is a weak challenger. An ambitious politician doesn't take on lost causes," Greene said. "Someone that obviously has name recognition and fundraising ability is unusual."

Aiken has a better shot of bringing in national Democratic funds, but Greene still puts the race as a difficult one for Aiken. A traditional Democratic challenger would have about a "2 or 3 percent chance," Greene said. He gives Aiken has about a "10 to 15 percent chance."

Greene said the challenge for Aiken is to turn out the traditional Democratic constituencies like young people and minorities in a midterm year.

"To me the big thing is that in a midterm election in a Republican district most Democrats are not ever going to have a chance and Clay Aiken gives them a chance," Greene said. "It's still a small chance and nowhere near a 50 -50, but it gives Democrats a much bigger chance than anybody else."

Even with such daunting odds, Aiken can come ahead in his political debut, even if he doesn't win. He can start to look more like a political player and less like a failed reality star.

"I don't think politicians run races to lose," Greene said. If Aiken loses in November, but has a "good showing, he could try again in 2016″ when there is a more "favorable electorate with a presidential election" and higher Democratic turnout.

Aiken has not been named the official victor because each of the nine counties in the district are certifying their votes today. They are counting absentee ballots that had until Monday to come in, as well as checking provisional ballots for their authenticity and counting those as well. As of Tuesday midday, Aiken's lead had grown from the 369 votes he led with on Election Night to 390 votes as the counties made those vote certifications.

The North Carolina Board of Elections won't officially call the race for a victor until next week because they give a two week break in case a recount or a run-off is needed. A recount would only have been triggered if the vote spread between the candidates was less than one percent, and his current margin remains larger than that one percent difference. A candidate would also have to call for a re-count, which will not happen now because of textile entrepreneur Keith Crisco's death.

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