December 9, 2009 7:32 PM

Jimmy Carter's Grandson Running for Office

By
CBSNews
(AP)  A grandson of Jimmy Carter is following the former president into politics with a run for the Georgia state Senate.

Democrat Jason Carter says he will run for an Atlanta-area seat that's being vacated by President Barack Obama's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Singapore.

If David Adelman is confirmed as ambassador in January, a special election could be held in March for his Senate seat representing part of DeKalb County.

Jason Carter is the only person so far to say he'd run for the seat in the heavily Democratic district.

The 34-year-old said his grandfather, once the governor of Georgia, encouraged him to take the plunge. But he said he doesn't feel much pressure to live up to his family's famous last name.

"To the extent that there's pressure, it is pressure to do the right thing, to maintain integrity that comes with the name," he said.

Carter is a lawyer who focuses on voting rights at an Atlanta firm. The 34-year-old former Peace Corps volunteer graduated from Duke University and the University of Georgia School of Law.

He said he wouldn't expect the former president to join him on the campaign trail much.

"The fact that Jimmy Carter is my grandfather, it gives me a profile and it gives me an opportunity. But in the end I still have to have relevant things to say," he said.

Jason Carter's father, Jack, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate from Nevada in 2006.

AP
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by Frankdog7 December 10, 2009 2:24 PM EST
Jimmy Carter is a wonderful man who works for Habitat for Humanity and still teaches Bible Studies at his Baptist Church every Sunday.
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by Ruler4You December 10, 2009 10:12 AM EST
One Jimmy Carter was enough. Haven't we learned that family following in political foot steps just doesn't seem to get the results required? Carter was, present POTUS excepted, THE worst president a free nation could ever unleash on itself. My recommendation would be for him to take up peanut farming, it's a living.
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by ur_u_nuts December 10, 2009 2:40 AM EST
He's probably another leftist/lib like his lame grand dad and will be another disappointment to the voters!

Hey Jimmah' I sure could use a day off.....
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by christmas65 December 9, 2009 7:13 PM EST
His grandfather who had interest rates at 14% and ruined the economy! I suggest you change parties Jason! That is, if you're "for the people"!!!!!!!!!
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