Clay Aiken as IDEA's Savior

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Clay Aiken just announced a possible bid for Congress (sauce: http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitic ... s/4302155/). Whatever one's thoughts on Renee Elmers or the current crop of North Carolina Republicans in control of the state after years of it drifting blue, would Aiken's background in special education (a B.A. and many years in respite care most commonly focused on autistics) and fame make him an ideal candidate, if elected, to push in Congress for fully funding the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act, a law promoting IEPs for inclusion in mainstream settings that has been underfunded for its entire quarter century plus of existence by apathetic/ableist Congresses and the funding exploited by schools unwilling to help PWDs succeed)? Or would budget hawks swallow up his pleas anyway?

Renee Ellmers won in 2012 56% to 41%, I very much doubt Clay Aiken or any Democrat for that matter stands a chance in NC-2 in 2014.

The big Tea Party wave saw her only squeak by, and there's no presidential tailwind in a state Romney won to rely on in 2014, though I agree that redistricting shored her up good. Bob Etheridge, who she beat that year, was a regular old North Carolina education vet with 1% of the name rec and national fundraising Aiken could draw if he actually runs. Ellmers would surely impugn his sexual orientation by whatever insinuations she can (politics is what it is), but her reputation isn't exactly Teflon with the base after she opposed the same (successful) civil unions bill Aiken did and supported the sequester compromise instead of total shutdown like they went for last year. A primary challenger may push her far right enough to restore her street cred, but gaffes like the initial ad against the Ground Zero non-mosque and her whining about her paycheck while voting against re-opening the government aren't doing her any favors with independents. I agree Aiken could be vulnerable to charges of reverse carpetbagging or coasting on his fame.

Any thoughts on whether a Congressman with a special ed background (actual career experience, not the Sarah Palin variety) could be an effective advocate for IDEA funding?

Redistricting made NC-2 solidly Republican in 2012 and the midterms are not going to be any kinder.