Clay Aiken's opponent, Keith Crisco, in the too-close-to-call race for North Carolina congressional district, has died.The president of the textile company founded by the 71-year-old says Crisco died at home on Monday after an accident.WRAL reported that Crisco was fatally injured when he tripped and hit his head on a walkway. They also reported that Crisco had told a Democratic strategist that he planned to concede to Aiken on Tuesday.Aiken (right), the 2003 "American Idol" runner-up-turned candidate, maintained a too-close-to-call lead in his run for 2nd Congressional District.Aiken grabbed 41 percent of the votes, to textile entrepreneur Crisco's 40 percent.A slim 432 votes separated the outcome, but that’s still above the 1 percent margin that requires a mandatory recount.Aiken's vote total was also above 40 percent, which is the mark candidates must cross to avoid a runoff in North Carolina.

Clay Aiken's opponent, Keith Crisco, in the too-close-to-call race for North Carolina congressional district, has died.

The president of the textile company founded by the 71-year-old says Crisco died at home on Monday after an accident.


WRAL reported that Crisco was fatally injured when he tripped and hit his head on a walkway. They also reported that Crisco had told a Democratic strategist that he planned to concede to Aiken on Tuesday.

Aiken (right), the 2003 "American Idol" runner-up-turned candidate, maintained a too-close-to-call lead in his run for 2nd Congressional District.

Aiken grabbed 41 percent of the votes, to textile entrepreneur Crisco's 40 percent.

A slim 432 votes separated the outcome, but that’s still above the 1 percent margin that requires a mandatory recount.

Aiken's vote total was also above 40 percent, which is the mark candidates must cross to avoid a runoff in North Carolina.