american-idol
• There’s no contest for today’s lead item: American Idol runner-up and Raleigh native Clay Aiken is serious about seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District. Aiken has consulted with a number of Democratic Party heavyweights, including longtime Jim Hunt friend and confidante Gary Pearce, who gave Aiken a glowing review earlier this month. With former state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco also in the race, this should be fun.

• The two contenders for the Republican nomination in the 7th Congressional District, former state Sen. David Rouzer of Johnston County and New Hanover County Commissioner Woody White, released distinctly different polling results. A poll commissioned by Rouzer showed him with a 55-19 lead over White; White’s camp released a poll suggesting a much smaller lead of 37 percent to 22 percent.

• Wilmington’s WECT publishes a profile of Brunswick County Superior Court Judge Ola Lewis, a Republican who’s challenging Democratic Justice Cheri Beasley in a contest for the state Supreme Court involving two African-American candidates.

• 6th District Republican hopeful Don Webb said, if elected, he would “strongly support” the impeachment of President Obama.