President Donald Trump opened the door for celebrities and business moguls to make it in politics, and now there's some chatter about which ones could actually make a successful run at the presidency in 2024 or beyond.
As a famous singer, songwriter, author, and politician, Clay Aiken has all the components for a successful run at the presidency someday. He first shot to fame as the "American Idol" runner-up in 2003 and went on to enjoy success as a recording artist.
He was the Democratic nominee in 2014 for North Carolina’s second Congressional district. He was defeated in the general election, but has been at the forefront of politics and activism ever since.
Here are 10 reasons Clay Aiken could be president someday:
1. He’s willing to voice unpopular views — Aiken endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary and was going to back her again in 2016, but changed his mind early on in the campaign, referring to her as a “leaky boat” and endorsing Joe Biden, vice-president at the time, according to CNN.
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2. President Trump is a friend — “I’m a friend of his. I like him as a person,” Aiken has said. Trump was always kind to him, except when The Donald fired the singer-turned-politician on “The Apprentice” in 2012, Aiken joked. Regardless, respect for a predecessor is helpful for the orderly transition of power should Aiken make a run at the presidency in a future 2024 election.
3. He’s really concerned — When Aiken ran as a Congressional candidate, he didn’t do it “to be a politician,” he said. “I ran because I saw a need.”
4. Education is a top priority for him — It was a main issue during his campaign and as an observer. He admired North Carolina Gov. Terry Sanford, partly because of his support for education.
5. He still considers a run for political office — Although he has said he’s not planning a run anytime soon, he has noted that, “eventually, I’ll run again.”
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6. He’s a moderate Democrat — “I’m a lot more moderate than a lot of Democrats in this country would like me to be,” he told Time. That could play to Aiken's advantage in a future election that attracts frustrated Democrats and Republicans.
7. Being a gay candidate is less of an issue — Aiken did quite well in the red state of North Carolina during his run for Congress. Besides, he was more of a “celebrity candidate,” so his sexual orientation wasn’t a big concern, he said.
8. His background in entertainment helps — Publicly dealing with two defeats — he came in second place during his stint on “American Idol” and he lost on “The Apprentice” — helped him develop a tough skin and boosted his confidence in the end, HuffPost pointed out.
9. He is critical of both the left and the right — Aiken says it like it is, regardless of party lines. He has criticized the Democrats, saying they hurt themselves by constantly talking about how horrible Trump and the Republicans are, he told The Hill.
10. He’s not typical — It's one of the reasons Trump was elected president, Aiken has said. Like the president, Aiken himself is not your typical politician.
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