Dem
51
GOP
49
Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care for over a year, and he lost his wife of 77+ years last November. So, it is not too much of a surprise that the former president is "coming to the end," according to his grandson Jason Carter. Whether that means days, weeks, or months, it sounds unlikely that #39 will make it to #100 on October 1.
We cannot think of another American politician currently living whose passing will affect as many people as will Carter's. Not only did his career take place in an era before the current partisan ultra-rancor, but he's also earned a lot of admiration for his clearly genuine religiosity, his rock-solid egalitarian marriage, his post-presidential work on fair elections and other causes, and his advocacy for housing for the poor. The passings of Barack and Michelle Obama, when they happen (presumably many years in the future) will be a big deal, and many will feel the loss of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger. But we just don't see anyone who is as beloved by as many people as Carter now is.
We are prepared for what we will write on that day, when it comes, but we thought it would also be good to have some reader remembrances as well. So, if you have a comment on the life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, please send it to comments@electoral-vote.com, and we will keep them on file until they are needed. (Z)