Ex-President Carter to Offer Support for Dean

Reuters ^ | January 13, 2004

[RWR8189]

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Reuters) - Former President Jimmy Carter will offer support for Democratic White House hopeful Howard Dean in a joint appearance in Georgia on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, campaign aides said on Tuesday. Carter was expected to remain officially neutral, but words of praise could help boost the former Vermont governor's chances when the race turns to the South on Feb. 3.

Dean's campaign headquarters announced later that the Democratic front-runner would leave Iowa to attend services and Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where Carter worships.

"This event is not expected to be an endorsement event," the written statement said.

Dean is in a tough fight with Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt in Iowa's caucuses on Monday, the first big prize in the Democratic presidential race for the right to challenge President Bush.

Former Vice President Al Gore and his Democratic primary rival in the 2000 election, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, have both endorsed Dean, boosting the Washington outsider's establishment credentials.

A spokeswoman for former President Bill Clinton said on Tuesday he would not endorse anyone until a nominee was chosen.

Carter predicted late last year that Dean's chances in Iowa and New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Jan. 27, looked "quite, quite good." Carter's son, Chip, is supporting and helping the Dean campaign.

"My overwhelming desire ... is to help the candidate that, in the last stages, maybe even of the primary, I think will do the best job in defeating George Bush in November," Carter said in an appearance on the CNN program "Larry King Live."

Carter, who also ran for the White House when he was a little-known governor, said Dean came to him in 2002 to share his plans for seeking the Democratic presidential nomination and ask for advice on the importance of Iowa, New Hampshire and other primary contests.

[RWR8189]

And I thought Algore's kiss of death was bad.

[b4its2late]

And I thought Algore's kiss of death was bad.

Algore invented Carter.

[Miss Marple]

In order to view the Dean-Clark contest, one needs to understand that Clark is supported by the Clintons. Anyone siding with Dean is looking to get rid of the Clintons. Carter's support for Dean is more easily understood that way, as is Gore's and Harkin's.

[luvbach1]

Oh, with the "Carter Clout" going for him, Dean is a shoo-in. Or is that eshewed?

[explodingspleen]

And so Dean sweeps the oh-so-critical communist vote...

[Reagan Man]

Jimmah Carter and Howie Dean. Two rotten peas in a pod with a common hatred of PresBush. Carter's legacy is that of a loser. Dean is just starting to build his own legacy. The legacy of another loser. If Dean gets the Demlib nomination, he will go down in flames.

[Saints fan]

Who really cares who the peanut endorses?

[Inyokern]

"My overwhelming desire ... is to help the candidate that, in the last stages, maybe even of the primary, I think will be defeated so soundly in November that even MY humiliating defeat of 1980 will not look so bad by comparison"

[Irene Adler]

Okay, I'll say it, "More mush from the wimp." There.

[Diogenesis]

WOW!!!! This is very very serous.

[steplock]

Top-Secret

[Reagan Man]

LOL The second ones a riot!

[Just Lori]

They get more pathetic with every passing day closing in on them LOSING.

[Dolphy]

Anyone siding with Dean is looking to get rid of the Clintons. Carter's support for Dean is more easily understood that way, as is Gore's and Harkin's.

This may be the only way these endorsements can be understood.

[clintonh8r]

Gore...Bradley...Harkin...Carter.

Hey! I thought Coward Dean was supposed to be an outsider!

[Michael Barnes]

Algore invented Carter.

Right before he created death.

[Bush Cheney]

Jimmy-Dean ...that's one sausage you don't want to eat.

[reagan_fanatic]

Is this the best the democraps can do - drag in a pathetic has-been like Jimmuh Carter for a worthless endorsement?

Grab some popcorn and pull up a chair, folks - they're starting to circle the rim!

[clintonh8r]

Jimmy-Dean...that's one sausage you don't want to eat.

I don't know....Kucinich might like a taste.