Carter Blames Racism for Clamor Over Obama

JIMMY CARTER

Racism Blamed for Clamor Over Obama

Former president Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that he believes race is at the core of much of the opposition to President Obama.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African American," Carter told NBC in an interview. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans"

Continued Carter: "And that racism inclination still exists. . . . It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

The 39th president also predicted that Obama will be able to "triumph over the racist attitude that is the basis for the negative environment that we see so vividly demonstrated in public affairs in recent days."

-- Garance Franke-Ruta

NEW YORK MAYOR

Comptroller Wins Democratic Primary

New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr. cruised to a victory Tuesday in the Democratic mayoral primary, and he will face billionaire incumbent Michael R. Bloomberg (I) in the general election.

With 62 percent of precincts reporting, Thompson had about 69 percent of the vote. City Councilman Tony Avella of Queens had 22 percent.

Bloomberg had been barred from a third term but persuaded the City Council last year to change the term-limits law. Bloomberg and did not compete in a primary Tuesday.

-- Associated Press