Carter For President

Black and white illustration of Jimmy Carter over an American flag above black text over white background. 

When James "Jimmy" Earl Carter began his campaign for US President, he was a litle known Southern Democrat from Plains, Georgia. Carter had state experience with two terms as a state legislator from 1962-1966, and one as governor from 1971-1975, but his name lacked recognition outside Georgia. After being selected as the Democratic National Committee's mid-term election leader, his popularity grew within the party. He gained a reputation as an ethical, down-to-earth Washington D.C. outsider, and Americans came to view him as the peanut farmer from Georgia who could set the country straight in the aftermath of Watergate and the Vietnam War.  

Carter was selected as the Democratic candidate in the 1976 presidential election and ran against incumbent Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. Carter's running mate was a US Sentator from Minnesota, Walter Mondale. Carter and Mondale emerged victorious, receiving 50.1% of the popular vote and 297 electoral votes.