"American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken is taking a serious look into running for Congress this year in his home state of North Carolina, according to a report in the Washington Blade. The singer, who also landed second-place on "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2012, has been consulting with political operatives for a possible run as a Democrat in North Carolina's 2nd congressional district.
Sources told the Blade that the 35-year-old Raleigh native has spoken with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and has sought the help of political strategist Betsy Conti, who has worked with Al Gore and former North Carolina Gov. Bev Purdue.
Census-driven redistricting by the state has transformed the 2nd into a relatively safe seat for the GOP, making a victory by Aiken, an openly gay Democrat, an uphill battle. The seat is currently held by Republican Renee Ellmers, who in 2012 defeated Democratic nominee Steve Wilkins by a 56%-41% margin.