Lawmakers are used to trying to rally support, but lately, some of them are pulling for votes in a different kind of election, as they sing the praises of their hometown “American Idol” contestants.
Only three performers — Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez — are left standing in the 11th season of Fox’s singing competition.
{mosads}On Saturday, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) credited his family with getting him hooked on the show, writing on Twitter, “Wendy and the kids have turned me into [a] fan, especially w/ Louisianan [Ledet] in final 3!”
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) voiced her support early on for the contestant from Westlake, La. In an April tweet, she congratulated Ledet, writing, “LA takes the stage. Read [about] @AmericanIdol’s Joshua Ledet, of Westlake, who taught fellow finalists to peel crawfish.”
While Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-Ga.) didn’t take to Twitter to give a shout-out to his “Idol” pick, Georgia native Phillips, The Albany Herald reports the congressman cheered on the guitar player in person at a weekend welcome-home celebration.
“Southwest Georgia’s 2nd congressional district has the brightest, most talented and most creative people in the world. On behalf of your friends and neighbors we promise you our support and our 600,000 votes for you to be the next ‘American Idol,’ ” Bishop told the crowd of Phillips supporters.
A lawmaker from the Golden State is also showing Sanchez, the youngest of the remaining contestants, some California love.
Rep. Bob Filner (D) was rooting on the San Diego resident last week before she made it into the final three, tweeting, “Tonight we can help our hometown superstar [Jessica Sanchez] get into the Top Three on American Idol!”
An “American Idol” winner will be crowned on May 23.
This article was updated on May 15 at 10:30 a.m.