By Chad Groening
One News Now
February 6, 2014
A North Carolina-based Christian activist predicts pop culture icon Clay Aiken isn’t going to have an easy time running for Congress, despite his name recognition.
Former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is running for Congress in North Carolina. He announced Wednesday he’s decided to put his entertainment career on hold and seek the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers. Aiken, 35, an open homosexual, is expected to face two others in the Democratic primary.
Informed of Aiken’s plans, Ellmers responded: “As we know, he doesn’t always fare that well. He was runner-up.”
Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, also expects the singer to struggle. For one thing, notes Creech, Aiken vehemently opposed North Carolina’s Defense of Marriage Amendment.
“That amendment passed by a 61-percent to 39-percent margin,” he points out to OneNewsNow. “People in North Carolina are going to remember him here for that. And I believe that that is going to be a major obstacle for him.”
The Christian activist also notes Aiken will be running in a heavily “Red” district. “The district where Aiken would be running has been redone and it’s really a more conservative district than it was when Renee Ellmers ran the first time – and it leans strongly Republican,” he adds. “So that’s something Aiken would have to overcome.”
And Creech believes it won’t be easy for Aiken to even win the Democratic primary.
Aiken finished second to Ruben Studdard in the 2003 American Idol competition. He disclosed he is “gay” in September 2008, and now actively promotes the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) on his personal website.
This article was posted with permission of One News Now.