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Carter: After June 3 "It Will Be Time For Her to Give It Up"

May 25, 2008 8:15 AM

In an interview with Sky News in London, former President Jimmy Carter said that after the final primaries on June 3 in South Dakota and Montana, he expects the remaining 210 or so uncommitted superdelegates will announce who they're backing in the Democratic contest, after which Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, will have to exit the race.

"I'm a superdelegate," Carter said. "I think a lot of the superdelegates will make a decision quite, announced quite rapidly, after the final primary on June 3...I have not yet announced publicly, but I think at that point it will be time for her to give it up."

Carter was asked if Clinton was achieving anything by continuing in the race.

"I think not," he said. "But of course she has the perfect right to do so."

Carter was hinting that he was a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as far back as April. The semi-endorsement came with strings attached, as that month Carter engaged in a public effort to engage with Hamas, which the U.S. government officially classifies as a terrorist organization. When asked by ABC News' David Wright, Obama said he wouldn't meet with Hamas and he said he disagreed with Carter's decision to meet with the group -- he called it a "bad idea" that gave Hamas "a legitimacy that was unnecessary" -- but he stopped short of condemning the former president for doing so.

- jpt

May 25, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (472)

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Senator Clinton won a victorious and triumphant LANDSLIDE victory in Florida.
The people who so desperately voted for her there will never tolerate their precious votes going to waste.
It is so obvious; the overwhealming tide of sexism has created a mountainous wave in the ocean of DEMOCRACY. Hillary, if you continue to fight for your justifiable right to claim Florida, which you won triumphantly with your effortless charm and courage, aplomb and character on the back of sheer hard work and love of your country, you will achieve what you strove so hard for. You will make America proud in the face of adversity.

Posted by: Magdalen | May 27, 2008 6:16:26 AM

Jimmy Carter was the worst president in my lifetime, and I've been around since Eisenhower. He should shut up and go build houses. Hillary would make a fine President, but there is a game afoot to install Obama into the White House by DNC liberals and the media. I would never put such a novice into the White House - too dangerous.

Posted by: Jenna NY | May 27, 2008 6:12:09 AM

As a resident of the state of NY where Hillary is a Senator, I wouldn't vote for her if I were paid to do so.
There is not enough money in the world to get me to vote that woman into the White House.

Posted by: Wouldnt Vote HC if Paid | May 27, 2008 3:16:13 AM

Go away, Carter! No one wants to hear you and see you! You tried to steer the media and voters. I, my husband and my other family members will all vote for Mcgain if Hillary lose, just to let you and other superdelegates regret that you did this.

Posted by: lynn | May 27, 2008 12:10:39 AM

McCain is currently right of center, but could be a centrist if he knew for certain he did have to pander to evangelicals to get elected. I say we take McCain, and tell him where he needs to bend. At the end of the day, this too is a business. If John knows this is unwinnable unless he makes a stand for the environment and the economy and stands up to those who wanted war (even for 5 more years), I think he'll make a good President. Please do not elect Obama. He will be as weak as Jimmy Carter was. Lest you forget, here we were, the great America -- held hostage by some idiots who got hold of planes. It didn't happen again until George W, which ought to tell everyone something. You have to have a steel set to run that office. That's why I love Hillary.

Posted by: LonghornMama | May 27, 2008 12:10:34 AM

I checked on the CNN website and it appeared that Romney won MI, not McCain. I remembered that McCain won all the big states. I guess I remembered wrong.

Posted by: anthony | May 26, 2008 11:42:44 PM

Kris,

Winning states in the primary is not the same as winning them in the general election. John McCain won all the states that you mentioned in the Republican primary. Michael Dukakis won most of the state that you mentioned (except MI), in fact he won 30 states. The polls had him way ahead of George HW Bush after the Democratic convention. Of course, Bush started campaigning against him, and Dukakis made some mistakes and were an uninspiring candidate. The rest was history.

Posted by: anthony | May 26, 2008 11:33:42 PM

Hillary isn't going to quit ever--that's something that a quitting loser like Jimmy Carter doesn't comprehend. She is tougher than the rest of the DNC put together. Tell Jimmy to go sell us out to N Korea or to Hamas some more. The pathetic chapter of American history that was the Jimmy Carter Presidency is now just a frightening, and nauseating memory. If anyone can talk this geriatric loser into being quiet, the USA would owe you a debt of gratitude.

Posted by: M Hayward | May 26, 2008 11:32:33 PM

I sure hope President Carter is right very soon HC will give up - give up the Dem party to run as independent.

Posted by: esvida | May 26, 2008 10:13:25 PM

AND P.S. PRESIDENT CARTER DESERVES OUR RESPECT....

Posted by: Della | May 26, 2008 9:57:05 PM

With so much racism and hatred on Senator Obama, Senator Clinton who in their RIGHT MIND would want to be President of the Divided States of America......I give us about 10 more years when we have sold America to foreign country and THEN EVERY ONE WILL BE HAPPY WHEN WE ARE A DICTATORSHIP NATION.....LAST LAUGH ON US AMERICANS..

Posted by: Della | May 26, 2008 9:55:52 PM

Can you imagine anyone saying about Edwards, "it will be time for him to give it up". Maybe I have been listening to Bill Clinton for too long, but the way Carter phrased this comment seems sexist.

The MSM is blatantly unfair to Hillary. Obama is the most liberal candidate from the Senate. The democrats know how to loose a general election.

Hillary '08!

Posted by: keval | May 26, 2008 9:47:31 PM

What a crusty old man. After she "gives it up" should she resort to talking with terrorists and making a spectacle of her self with those who wish us and our allies grave harm? Oh I am sorry thats what retired presidents who fail to get the release of hostages and come up with a lasting energy policy do. My bad!

Posted by: Robert John Kellogg | May 26, 2008 8:34:29 PM

JIMMY CARTER WAS A VERY WEAK PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHY HE COULDN'T EVEN GET RE-ELECTED FOR A SECOND TERM. CARTER WAS WEAK ON TERRORIST COUNTRIES AND NO WONDER IRAN MILITANT TOOK AMERICAN HOSTAGES AND HELD THEM FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.....CARTER IS LIKE OBAMA...THEY ARE BOTH WEAK PACIFIST THAT OUR ENEMIES KNOW ARE SOFT....NO WONDER CARTER WANTS OBAMA AS PRESIDENT.....BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.

Posted by: John Pen | May 26, 2008 8:08:06 PM

Obama had his name removed from the Michigan ballot. He requested
that his name be removed in
Florida as well. Apparently, the
Republican-controlled state
legislature prevailed in keeping
his name on the ballot there. The
state would not remove it.

The Obama campaign has
scrupulously tried to comply
with the DNC rulings.

Posted by: anon | May 26, 2008 7:44:49 PM

In 2007, Michigan and Florida, in direct violation of party rules, scheduled their votes with the full knowledge that the Democratic Party would not recognize their results. In the context of most nominating contests, which are decided after only a handful of states vote, Michigan and Florida figured that it was better to stage an early "beauty contest" than to hold an election once the race was all but decided. The Democratic candidates did not campaign in either state, and only Clinton was on the Michigan ballot, which makes it all the more unconscionable for her campaign to be calling for the Florida and Michigan delegations to be seated.

Posted by: Kate | May 26, 2008 6:55:58 PM

Of the two Democratic presidents today, there is no comparison. Bill Clinton is by far more credible.

Carter - habitually meets with fringe and thugs. Clinton - a moderate who (in keeping with Presidential tradition) does not defy the current Administration.

Carter - associated to 9/11 conspiracy theorists (see Dershowitz article). Clinton - confronts these nuts, as such, when they heckle him.

Carter sure sets the bar low, but the Clintons are a class act, regardless.

Posted by: Mark | May 26, 2008 6:53:07 PM

McCain is no centrist. Derides
direct diplomacy. He wants war
with Iran. Then its extension:
WW3.

He seems to have no taste for
dealing with major domestic
issues such as energy
dependence and the sagging
economy.

Like Bush he seems to be
preoccupied 24/7 with
mickey-mouse countries like
Iran, North Korea and
Venezuela.

Posted by: anon | May 26, 2008 6:44:01 PM

Kris,
YOU WROTE:
"DNC simply cannot disfranchise millions of voters in these two states."

I agree 100% to disinfranchise the millions of voters from that state but that includes thouse who did partipate because they were told the votes that was held wouldnt count! Told that by every one including Hillary.

I was a Hilary supporter but how she has acted has both sadenned and agered me. She has made it like she cares about FL and Michigan and it Obama fault the votes dont count when she is equaly responsiable for the stituation. Its also shows a hudge lack of leadership by Howard Dean..It shold never have been allowed to get to this.

I actually agree with you that if they can they should hold new votes once the other contests are over and the should just do like the republicans did and give both state half a vote.. So other states know FL and Michigan are not being rewarded for breaking the rules.

Posted by: Kate | May 26, 2008 6:20:23 PM

You forget the knock on McCain when he first one the nomination is that he's too moderate for the Republicans. I know conservatives today who still don't want him. If McCain chooses the right VP, if he makes a more progressive stance towards green jobs and saving the environment, moves to end this war and thereby save the economy...he becomes a centrist. That's all the majority of people want this time around is a centrist. Hillary is a centrist. McCain who is standing slightly right of center has the ability to be completely centrist if he didn't think he would have to appease the evangelicals to get elected. How bizarre that Democrats could likely find the President they wanted, not in Obama, but in McCain. It's truly within John's grasp if he recognizes how to move to center.

Posted by: LonghornMama | May 26, 2008 5:32:26 PM

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