Entertainment
Idol star Clay Aiken Announces Run for Congress
Clay Aiken, a former contestant on the popular “American Idol” TV show, hopes to parlay the fame and popularity he has gained in entertainment into a new job as a Congressman from his native North Carolina. Aiken has formally announced that he will challenge Republican Renee Ellmers who currently holds that seat. Aiken, who previously admitted to being homosexual, announced his candidacy via video, calling his 2003 participation in American Idol competition a “golden ticket” which gained him admission not only to a singing career but also to a role on Broadway.
He said he felt inspired to run in his home state because he sees today that there are too many residents of North Carolina who have no golden ticket to better opportunities.
He recalls his own poverty as a youth being raised by a single mother who had to escape an abusive spouse. The 35-year old said he doesn’t believe that his sexual orientation will influence whether or not he gets enough votes to represent the people of his home state in Congress. Aiken says that unemployment, poverty, hunger and many other issues are affecting North Carolina citizens but his sexual orientation is not important to them.
On The Web:
Clay Aiken Announces Run for Congress
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/06/gay-former-american-idol-star-announces-bid-for-congress/
