“‘Obama’s campaign has been extraordinary and titillating for me and my family,’ Mr. Carter said…’He has an extraordinary oratory…I think that Obama will be almost automatically a healing factor in the animosity now that exists, that relates to our country and its government.’“
Former president Jimmy Carter compliments Barack Obama, although he also says he will not be endorsing anyone before the nomination is decided. “Mr. Carter also said he talked by telephone at length on Monday with former President Bill Clinton, who was ‘trying to explain that he was not raising the race issue’ on the campaign trail…Mr. Clinton ‘has said a few things that I think he wishes he hadn’t said,’ Mr. Carter said. ‘He doesn’t call me often, but the fact that he called me this morning and spent a long time explaining his position indicates that it’s troublesome to them, the adverse reaction.’”
C’mon, Jimmy; you know you want to endorse Obama. (And where’s Al, by the way.)
And Kevin, are you feeling that post-Iowa high again?
Gore’s silence at this point is deafening. But perhaps he’s Obama’s ace-in-the-hole for Friday, after Thursday’s debate. We’ll see…
As for the post-Iowa high…to be honest, not quite. (I did feel great after SC, tho’.) For one, we still face a pretty serious uphill climb next Tuesday, judging from the polls (Admittedly, that’s before SC/Kennedy, and Connecticut of all places is now tied.)
For another, there’s too much blood on the floor at this point to feel as good as after Iowa. I didn’t expect then that the Clintons would get this ugly. And I presumed more Democrats would see right through — and be more outraged by –the more intellectually dishonest tactics we’ve seen from them in the weeks since.
But that hasn’t been the case. I’m reading way too many online comments by rabid Clinton supporters arguing that anything goes, and spewing forth contradictory and easily contradictable anti-Obama talking points right now (He’s an “empty suit,” He’s Reagan, He’s Al Sharpton, He’s Rezko’s bagman.) Some of the identity politics myopia (see NY-NOW) has been too depressing for words. And the generation gap persists…
Still, we’ve got the better candidate, and we’ve got some good momentum. So, I still hope, and even allow myself to be cautiously optimistic at times.