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1976: Ex-dark horse Carter canters through county

By ROBERT HOOKER
Published February 4, 2007

FEB. 4

A long shot no more, Democratic presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter quickstepped across Pinellas Tuesday, with a wary eye on now-emerging critics.

Smiling broadly, the onetime Georgia governor met in Clearwater with students at St. Petersburg Junior College, and in St. Petersburg with senior citizens at Williams Park, local officials at city hall and mostly black supporters at a campaign headquarters at 1420 9th St. S.

Virtually everywhere he went, Carter was asked about a recent spate of criticism - criticism he rarely got when he was just another name in the crowded Democratic field.

Strong showings in the Iowa and Maine precinct caucuses have thrust Carter into a leader's role, however, and Tuesday the crinkle-eyed candidate found himself answering charges from:

- Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace, who is expected to join Carter and U.S. Sen. Henry M. Jackson of Washington in a three-man contest in Florida's March 9 primary.

Wallace has said that Carter and the national party urged other Democratic candidates to stay away from Florida in an effort to eliminate Wallace, but Carter branded that "ridiculous."

"I haven't asked any other candidate to stay out of Florida ... and I haven't asked Gov. Wallace why he stayed out of New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Maine," said Carter. "I'm willing to meet them all, head on."

- Onetime Georgia governor Lester Maddox, an arch-conservative who came to Florida last week to warn that Carter is a fraud and a radical.

"I was hoping he Maddox would say something nice about me ... (since) he hasn't for six years," smiled Carter. "If I could choose one person to be my critic, it would be Lester Maddox."

- Harper's magazine, which will hit the newsstands later this month with a long article entitled "Jimmy Carter's Pathetic Lies."

Carter, who already has read the article, called it "very vicious, inaccurate and distorted" and an "accumulation of misquotations and allegations by my enemies."

It was the 28th time Carter has come to Florida since announcing his once-forlorn candidacy more than a year ago - and solid proof that the candidate and his campaign are catching on.

FEB. 4, 1936

Many new students begin semester

CLEARWATER - Pinellas County's public school pupils yesterday began their second semester work.

Clearwater schools reported a number of new students enrolling in classes. Many of them were from northern communities, here with their families for the winter months.

FEB. 4, 1936

Kelloggs leave on trip to West Indies

DUNEDIN - Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Kellogg of Battle Creek, Mich., left Dunedin Monday on a month's pleasure trip. They will go by train to New York, where they will board a boat and proceed to the West Indies. Miss Helen Abbott will accompany them. Miss Bessie Rogers, Mr. Kellogg's personal secretary, will go also. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg have spent the last few weeks at their winter home in Dunedin Isles. They expect to return to Dunedin after the trip.

Pinellas History is compiled by Times staff writer Theresa Blackwell. She can be reached at (727) 445-4170 or tblackwell@sptimes.com

Looking back

Headlines through the years

A look back at the events, people and places that made North Pinellas the unique place that it is. The information is compiled from past editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

[Last modified February 3, 2007, 21:10:51]