Clay Aiken’s official foray into politics began early Wednesday with a video describing how his mother once shielded him from his father’s violent outbursts.
Aiken, famous for being the runner up on the second season of American Idol, kicked of his campaign to represent North Carolina in Congress with an emotional video brimming with bipartisan appeals.
The nearly five-minute clip begins with the Democrat describing how his mother suffered bruises, and worse, from his violent father. He goes on to describe how his mother protected him, and how the two existed on a very small income.
From there, Aiken touts his credentials by discussing his work in special education, traveling on behalf of UNICEF and work serving under President George W. Bush in an educational capacity. He also touted his faith, a belief in bipartisan leadership and disappointment in his Republican opponent, Rep. Renee Ellmers, voting for both the government shutdown and military cuts.
On the surface, the 35-year-old Aiken wants the support of both parties.
“I’m not a politician, and I don’t ever want to be one,” he says, striking an outsider’s tone similar to the one Sen. Barack Obama held during the 2008 presidential election.
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