Congressional candidate Crisco dies in fall

[Adam]

Congressional candidate Crisco dies in fall

ASHEBORO, N.C. — Keith Crisco, who was battling Clay Aiken for the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Congressional District, died Monday in a fall at his Randolph County home.

Officials with Asheboro Elastics, the textiles company that Crisco founded in 1986, confirmed that Crisco had died. Democratic strategist Brad Crone said a campaign aide told him that Crisco tripped and hit his head on a walkway outside his home.

"This is a shocking day," Crone said. "I have known Keith for nearly 30 years and consider him a good friend. He has done a great deal for his community and his state. I will miss his insights and his wry sense of humor and his keen mind for math and statistics."

In last Tuesday's primary, Crisco was trailing Aiken by 369 votes, according to unofficial totals. Crisco said in a statement Wednesday that he was waiting for county canvasses to see if the race remained close enough for him to request a recount or whether he and Aiken would go to a July runoff.

Crone said he had spoken with Crisco earlier in the day and that Crisco said he planned to concede the race Tuesday.

Aiken, who will presumably advance to face Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers in the November general election, said he plans to suspend his campaign for a while to pray for Crisco's family.

"He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant. I was honored to know him," Aiken said in a statement.

Well that sucks. I didn't know anything about the guy, but I hate that this happened.

RIP.

[Frostbit]

I can think of a few other politicians that might follow his lead.

[phillygirl]

That's terrible. Good on Clay Aiken for suspending the campaign for a bit. It's got to be tough to know how really to react, and it seems like his reaction was as good as any.