Clay Aiken’s Primary Opponent Keith Crisco Dies

UPDATE: Clay Aiken has won the Democratic nomination for Congress in North Carolina.

Keith Crisco, the political opponent of former “American Idol” singer Clay Aiken, has died.

FOX News Radio’s Tonya J. Powers reports:

Keith Crisco was 71 years old. He died at his home after after some type of fall.

He and Aiken were locked in a too-close-to-call Democrat Party primary after last week’s election for the 2nd Congressional district. Fewer than 400 votes separated the two and Aiken was leading.

An elections spokesman says unless Crisco can come from behind during a final tally of the votes this week, Aiken will be the nominee. If Crisco does win, local Democrats would select the nominee.

Aiken posted a message on Twitter, saying he was “stunned and deeply saddened” by the death of Crisco, whom he called a “good and honorable man”.

Tonya J. Powers, FOX News Radio.