Clay Aiken running for Congress in North Carolina
Maybe he can get Simon Cowell to manage his campaign.
Former 'American Idol' runner-up Clay Aiken announced that he will run for Congress in his native North Carolina.
The 35-year-old crooner, who was rumored last month to be the choice of Democratic insiders, insists that the campaign isn't a publicity ploy.
RELATED: ARSENIO HALL TOPS CLAY AIKEN ON 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE''I saw this as the best place I could serve, because I think Washington, in general, is dysfunctional,' Aiken told NewsObserver. 'I think it's high time we put people in Congress who were not beholden to their party, and not beholden to anything but the people who they live around and grew up around, in my case.'
Aiken faces two opponents in the Democratic primary in former state commerce secretary Keith Crisco and counselor Toni Morris. He has put his music career on the backburner as he pursues public office.
If Aiken can clear that first hurdle, he would attempt to unseat incumbent Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), who was elected in 2010.
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'She ended up in D.C. and was changed by it,' Aiken told the outlet. 'I went to Hollywood and didn't let it change me. I won't go to Washington and let it change me.'
Aiken can count on his die-hard fans, who call themselves Claymates, to buoy his Congressional run. Although, its unclear whether their support of his music career will transfer to visits to voting booths and campaign checks.
He is best known for his stint on season 2 of 'American Idol' where he lost in the finale to Ruben Studdard and tunes such as 'Measure of a Man.'
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If Aiken won, he would join a growing list of celebrities that have transitioned to public service. Former 'Saturday Night Live' star was elected to U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger was Governor of California.
Ellmers began dismissing Aiken's Washington bid even before the singer formally announced.
'Apparently his performing career isn't going so well and he's bored,' she told a Washington radio station.
Aiken and Ellmers have already begun trading barbs, in what will be, if nothing else, an entertaining election cycle.
'I will say it's pretty sad that I didn't even get a chance to get into the race before the mud started being thrown around,' Aiken told the NewsObserver. 'That's not the kind of campaign I'm going to run. Maybe I should be flattered that she's worried enough she thinks she needs to stomp me down.'
idejohn@nydailynews.com
Twitter: @IrvingDeJohn
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