From The Voter Update: Clay Aiken files for Congress, fields questions from reporters

Clay Aiken officially filed to run for North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district on Thursday.

The former “American Idol” and “Celebrity Apprentice” contestant is seeking the Democratic nomination to take on two-term Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers.

Aiken will first face a primary fight against former state commerce secretary Keith Crisco, after which he would have something of an uphill climb winning a district that was drawn by the Republican-led legislature to favor the GOP.

A gaggle of media was on hand for Aiken’s arrival at the State Board of Elections in Raleigh on Thursday morning, as the singer was accompanied by a small group of supporters, including his mother and his former second grade teacher.

After paying the $1,740 fee to run for Congress and completing the required paperwork, Aiken fielded questions from reporters.

When asked whether he fully supported the Affordable Care Act, also called “Obamacare,” Aiken said that the law was imperfect but could be corrected without repealing it.

“I think that’s a problem that Democrats in general have, is an inability to recognize the fact that a lot of people do have problems with that particular law. That said, the number of things that are positive about the law, we don’t talk about enough,” Aiken said. “I believe that the law, if we look at it as a whole, has some deficiencies that can be addressed without throwing out some really, really important protections for people.”

Aiken was also asked about recent comments made by Ellmers, in which she said he had “San Francisco values.”

“Everybody up here knows I’ve been here my entire life, I’ve lived in North Carolina my entire life, my mom won’t let me have anything but North Carolina values,” Aiken said. “I’d love for (Ellmers) to explain exactly what she means by that, but I know myself, I know that I’m from North Carolina, proudly, and that’s who I am.”

Aiken’s mother, Faye, was asked if she ever thought her son would run for Congress.

“Every parent says their child’s going to be president one day, but no,” she said. “I used to tell him ‘use your voice.’ I don’t think this is what I was thinking, but he’s using his voice.”

North Carolina’s candidate filing period ends Friday at noon. The primary election will be held on May 6, with early voting beginning Apr. 24.

This was written by BWarner   The following is the video from this site!

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ABC News has put an Associated Press article on their site….You can read it at  ABCNEWS  The Associated Press has strict rules for copying the article so I cannot post the article here.

And…a few more pictures!!

Isn’t this fun?

Congratulations to Clay!

What A Wonderful Day!