The actor William H. Macy has a problem. He's trying to come up with a song to play at an upcoming fundraiser for Democrat Jason Carter's campaign, and now he's learned that former President Jimmy Carter may also attend. Suddenly, that ukulele tune has become more important. "Need courage and better rhymes," he wrote on Twitter.
That hint last week about the Los Angeles fundraiser is the latest sign of the former president’s growing role in his grandson’s bid for governor. The elder Carter has access to a donor network and the media that few can rival. But his involvement also opens the younger Carter to attacks from conservatives who view his grandfather’s one-term presidency with disdain.
Jason Carter, a state senator from Atlanta, has long tried to veer the conversation away from his famous relative in interviews on the campaign trail, saying he's proud of his grandfather's legacy but the race is "about the future and not my family." Yet as November nears, the candidate is increasingly tapping his grandfather's network.
The elder Carter has headlined fundraisers with Democratic bigwigs in New York. He's sent email blasts soliciting donations from the party faithful. And he's hosting a June weekend retreat for the campaign at his Plains compound — at a cost of $20,000 a couple.
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