Andy DehnartClay Aiken’s main opponent in the still-contested Democratic primary election for a seat in the House of Representatives died suddenly today, and the former American Idol runner-up announced he was suspending his campaign. Keith Crisco, 71, died after falling at his home.
He was 369 votes behind Clay, and “planned to concede his campaign for Congress” tomorrow, the News & Observer reports. A friend and political strategist told the paper that this morning, “they finalized plans to announce on Tuesday that he would concede the election and call Aiken to congratulate him,” and “had already notified Aiken’s campaign staff of the plans.”
Aiken’s web site is now offline, replaced with this message:
“I am stunned and deeply saddened by Keith Crisco’s death. Keith came from humble beginnings. No matter how high he rose – to Harvard, to the White House and to the Governor’s Cabinet – he never forgot where he came from.
He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant. I was honored to know him.
I am suspending all campaign activities as we pray for his family and friends.”