Free Republic

Openly gay “American Idol” runner-up could run in North Carolina Clay Aiken may dedicate his knack for winning voters’ hearts to something besides “American Idol”: The runner-up on the show’s second-season is reportedly mulling a run for Congress in North Carolina. The Washington Blade says Aiken, 35, has consulted with political operatives including Betsy Conti, a political strategist who worked for Al Gore and former North Carolina Gov. Bev Purdue. Conti is based in Aiken’s hometown of Raleigh. He would potentially seek the seat now held by second term Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers, the Blade reported. Aiken, who came...

She was going to get creamed in the general election, anyway.

For the fifth time this year, two of the three gubernatorial candidates met for a debate. This time, it was a different two. Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Mike Munger debated the economy, health care and education in an hour-long event hosted by UNC-TV, agreeing more than they disagreed. Democrat Beverly Perdue skipped the debate. Though they agreed more than they disagreed during the debate, McCrory and Munger differed on offshore drilling and the death penalty. McCrory argued drilling would lower gas prices eventually, while Munger said it was a gimmick but worth doing anyway. McCrory said he would move...