Consultant: Clay Aiken considering NC Congress run

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A longtime state Democratic Party consultant says pop singer Clay Aiken is considering a run for Congress in North Carolina's 2nd District.

Consultant Gary Pearce told The Associated Press on Friday that the "American Idol" runner-up from 2003 has talked with him and other advisers and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about whether to challenge Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers.

Pearce says he has discussed the race with Aiken, but doesn't know if he would be part of a campaign team if the singer decides to run.

The 35-year-old Aiken is gay and has a son, Parker, who was born through in-vitro fertilization.

Other Democrats have already said they plan to seek the nomination.