Congressman Clay Aiken?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

He's running against Ellmers, and her campaign has already gone "San Francisco"...

Clay Aiken makes it official: He will run for Congress
By Craig Jarvis
[e-mail] 5, 2014 Updated 43 minutes ago

....

He began on that path by teaching special education students in Wake County and – after a detour in the entertainment world – working with UNICEF. After months of exploring a Congressional bid, he recently decided to put his entertainment career on hold and run.

“I saw this as the best place I could serve, because I think Washington, in general, is dysfunctional,” Aiken said. “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, 35, said jobs and the economy will be important campaign themes; specifically, emphasizing education as a way to get people back to work, including through adult job retraining programs.

....

Aiken said he planned to raise “the vast majority” of his campaign funds from supporters, but said he might have to use some of his own money. He still retains a fanatical fan base – known as Claymates – which in recent weeks has promoted his candidacy through an online petition.

....

“It speaks volumes to the state of the N.C. Democratic Party that the primary is shaping up to be a choice between the failed Perdue Administration’s Keith Crisco, a lawyer who doesn’t even live in the district, an activist who’s own party rejected her in the last democrat primary – and Aiken, a performer whose political views more closely resemble those of San Francisco than Sanford,” spokeswoman Jessica Wood wrote in an email. “Renee best represents the values of the voters in the 2nd District and remains focused on fighting for their families.”

....

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/05/3591343/clay-aiken-makes-it-official-he.html#storylink=cpy

[karmaqueen]

1. He would make a fantastic Congressman!

I hope he can let people see who he it.. A smart, passionate Democrat!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. His "not beholden" remark makes me nervous,

and I want to know more about his positions. But compared to Renee "I Need My Paycheck" Ellmers, dear God yes. He's got to be a massive improvement...

[octoberlib]

4. I thought he sounded a little politically naive but I'd vote for him nt

[struggle4progress]

7. When did he actually become a Democrat? It's my understanding

that he only recently switched his registration from Unaffiliated/Independent

[littlemissmartypants]

17. In NC there are three recognized affiliations, Democrat, Republican & Libertarian. The Independent

party Doesn't exist.

Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp

[struggle4progress]

18. Here's the current registration form:

http://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Portals/0/FilesP/NCVRRegFormv102013eng.pdf

Note the language: If you indicate a political party that is not currently qualified, or you do not indicate a choice, you will be listed as "Unaffiliated"

I've registered hundreds and hundreds of voters down here in recent years, and in my experience hardly anyone ever spontaneously identifies as "unaffiliated": most unaffiliated voters, who haven't heard the official list of qualified parties, will call themselves independents. They can, if they want, write "independent" in the "other" blank, but if you explain the situation to them, nearly all will accept "unaffiliated"

Aiken has been no different than everyone else in this usage, as far as I can tell: ... Aiken .. said he was once a registered independent voter ...

Of course, he apparently won the primary two weeks ago, and his opponent is now deceased, so the matter is resolved, and I will regard him as a Democrat

[littlemissmartypants]

19. My response is in reaction to the many responses

I have experienced while registering voters. I have been told/instructed by my local county board that only three parties are "recognized" in NC and to have a counted vote in a primary you have to declare one of the three I mentioned. If this is wrong I'd like to know. I am a new assistant judge. Just trying to do my part. Thanks for the reply though clearly the context of my comment is dubious. I'm not as experienced as you. Any help in untangling our current mess is to me a step in the right direction. Thanks.

Love, Peace and Shelter. Lmsp

[struggle4progress]

20. In NC IIRC:

(1) Any changes in a voter's party affiliation must be completed at least 25 days before the primary election

(2) If registered as a particular party voter, you vote the primary ballot of that party

(3a) An unaffiliated voter may vote a partisan ballot, if the voter so chooses and if particular party allows that -- and it is my understanding that the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian parties all currently allow it -- but if an unaffiliated voter votes in the X-party primary in a particular year then that voter can only vote in X-party primary run-off elections that year (and not in any other party primary run-off election)

(3b) Alternatively, an unaffiliated voter may vote a nonpartisan ballot, if the voter so chooses and if there are any nonpartisan races on the ballot

Item (3b) can be somewhat confusing, as it produces a plethora of ballots: for the recent May primary, there were at least

(i) state-wide partisan primaries for the US Senate;
(ii) Congressional district-wide partisan primaries for the US House
(iii) State Senate district-wide partisan primaries for the NC Senate
(iv) State House district-wide partisan primaries for the NC House

(v) some state-wide nonpartisan primaries for state judicial races
(vi) some district-wide nonpartisan primaries for state judicial races

(vii) some local nonpartisan elections (such as school board elections in my county)

Thus an unaffiliated NC voter might have had the option of choosing a D-ballot for (i-vii), of choosing a R-ballot for (i-vii), or of choosing a L-ballot for (i-vii), but perhaps some options may not have existed in some locations, depending on who actually filed for what. And an unaffiliated NC voter would also have had the option of choosing a nonpartisan ballot for (v-vii), though again perhaps some options may not have existed in some locations, depending on who actually filed for what

[struggle4progress]

8. Does he have any political experience at all?

[dsc]

11. He was a spokeman in the Issue 1 campaign

which of course we lost, but he was a very good spokesman.

[struggle4progress]

12. The Amendment One loss was IMO a ground game failure. While polls showed that NC voters

generally disapproved of gay marriage, polls also showed a majority of voters approved of civil unions, which, of course, the amendment also forbid -- and outreach regularly demonstrated many voters simply did not understand that fact. The question, unfortunately, was often described carelessly as "the Gay Marriage Amendment," and because it was placed on the primary rather than the general election ballot, low turnout gave proponents an additional and significant organizing advantage. We simply didn't knock enough doors and ring enough phones: only about one in five registered NC voters actually voted for the amendment, but that carried the day for them, because only about one in three registered NC voters bothered to come to the polls

You're certainly welcome to your opinion that Aiken was an effective spokesman against Amendment One. He did shoot some nice spots, but it seems to me his own efforts were too often directly nationally rather than locally -- where they really needed to be directed:

... Aiken says he has not yet had a chance to ask Trump .. his position on Amendment One ...

That exhibits a lack of carefully focused analysis IMO

Our easiest shot at knocking Ellmers out might have been her first re-election campaign in 2012, though I do think its still possible to remove her in 2014

Who can win the District 2 D-primary? Here are some possible considerations for primary voters:

Want another wealthy white male candidate? Vote for Aiken or Crisco; otherwise consider Morris
Want a candidate with government experience? Vote for Crisco; otherwise consider Aiken or Morris
Want a candidate who knows the district? Vote for Crisco or Morris; otherwise consider Aiken
Want a conservadem? Vote for Crisco; otherwise consider Aiken or Morris

[dsc]

13. The Trump thing is a cheap shot

he was on Trump's show at the time which is the only reason he addressed that. I want the best shot of winning in that district and frankly I think Aiken is likely it. He would have the ability to raise funds independent of the Democratic party.

[struggle4progress]

14. Staying on message matters in political fights

[Lee-Lee]

3. Maybe

I am always suspicious when some entertainer tries to parlay their fame into politics. Just because you can sing doesn't mean you are qualified for office.

I need to know more.

[karmaqueen]

5. Clay does not like fame...

He does not really like the spotlight but wants to make a difference. He has turned down chances to do more with his music but his family and foundation were more important. He has been involved in helping with The Safe Schools Improvement Act, Ambassador for UNICEF, Founded The Inclusion Project & so many things to help others... He is very sincere and has never done anything just for attention but because he wanted to make a difference. With the recent takeover of our State by some of the craziest politicians I have ever seen Clay would be a welcome relief..

[struggle4progress]

6. The only person who seems to have actually filed for 2nd District so far is Frank Roche (R)

So it looks like Ellmers has a tea party challenger

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. For everyone's reading *pleasure*...

http://frankrocheforcongress.com/

[struggle4progress]

10. Just to clarify the situation a bit: Republican Ellmers is a rightwing political novice who defeated

conservative Democrat Etheridge for the second district seat in 2010 and won re-election in the newly gerry-mandered district in 2012; Roche is an even more rightwing talkshow host, who represents disaffected Tea Partiers angry that Ellmers, while batshizz, just really isn't quite batshizz enough to deserve their continuing support

[ncrainbowgrrl]

15. Clay is AWESOME. (and I HATE AMERICAN IDOL)

He really has a great grasp on the issues, wants to work for NC, has put aside his singing career to do this... he's not a politician, and says so.

Seriously, check him out on twitter at @clayfornc

And no, I live in NC-4, so I can't vote for him. but i would in a heartbeat

[WorseBeforeBetter]

16. Ha, I watched only one season...

his season! Thanks for the Twitter info -- I'll check it out.