Jimmy Carter's Grandson Will Run for Ga. Governor

Jason Carter will attempt to follow in his grandfather Jimmy's footsteps from Georgia's state senate to the governor's mansion in next year's election, he revealed in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. "We can't wait as a state," Carter says in announcing his campaign. Grandpa's name aside, the younger Carter is far from a shoo-in: Georgia isn't usually a swing state, and hasn't had a Democrat in the governor's mansion in 12 years. Speculation, however, has been swirling that demographic trends could change that, and Carter's pedigree is likely to vault the race into the national consciousness.

But he'll be facing an incumbent with a fundraising head start—as of July, Gov. Nathan Deal already had $1.1 million in the bank. Of course, Jimmy Carter could help that by tapping his donor network. The senior Carter was active in Jason's state senate campaign, going door-to-door to campaign for him. (More Jimmy Carter stories.)