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At 90, Jimmy Carter is back campaigning in Georgia

By WTOP Staff

CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY
Associated Press

ALBANY, Ga. (AP) — It’s been more than four decades since Jimmy Carter campaigned across Georgia and asked voters to make him governor.

His winning race set the stage for his election as president in 1976.

Carter’s just turned 90, but he was out campaigning on Sunday for his grandson Jason, a Democratic state senator and lawyer who’s challenging the Republican governor, Nathan Deal, on Nov. 4, in a close race.

The former president and his grandson spoke during a church service open to the public in south Georgia, a key area for Jason Carter as he looks to woo former Democrats back to a party that many left more than a decade ago. The visit to Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Albany was part of a campaign push ahead of early voting, which begins Monday.

Jimmy Carter spoke of the struggle for blacks to obtain the right to vote and praised his grandson, a state senator and lawyer from Atlanta, for fighting against the state’s voter ID law. The former president said Republicans are for limiting, not expanding, voter access.

“He’s led the charge,” the former president said of his grandson’s work in the courtroom to challenge the state law. “Everyone here and everyone you can contact should join with . Jason when the time comes this year to make Martin Luther King’s dream come true.”

Polls suggest a tight race between Carter and Deal, and Democrats see both the governor’s race and a fierce battle for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat as critical to laying the foundation for Georgia to become a presidential swing state in 2016.

Up until this point, the elder Carter had largely stayed behind the scenes, headlining private fundraisers and offering counsel to his grandson’s campaign. But in the final weeks, he is taking on a more prominent role.

Among those in the crowd was Hildry Branch, a retired educator from Albany, who brought her family to hear the former president and who appreciated his support for his grandson. A lifelong Democrat, Branch said she planned to vote for the younger Carter.

“I like what he’s said about education,” she said. “All children need to be educated. That’s one thing no one can take from you.”

During his remarks, Jason Carter talked about how his grandfather had inspired him, and what prompted him to run for governor.

“He was born in a little country town in south Georgia,” he said of his grandfather. “He didn’t have a lot in his life. But if one child in rural Georgia can grow up to do the things he has done, then we owe it to every child to educate them and give them opportunity.”

The battle for voters outside of Atlanta, particularly in south and middle Georgia, will be key in both the races for governor and Senate. Georgia hasn’t backed a Democrat for president since Bill Clinton in 1992, and Republicans have made steady gains across the state in the years since.

But the state’s demographics have been changing, with a growing minority population and an increase in people moving into Georgia from other states.

Meanwhile, Democrats have launched a targeted effort this year to register some of the estimated 800,000 black, Latinos and Asians already living in the state who have yet to engage in the political process.

Republicans have been eager to link Jason Carter to the elder Carter’s policies, portraying him as a liberal Atlanta Democrat who can’t be trusted not to raise taxes.

Jason Carter has criticized Deal for not doing enough to fund education and help the state’s middle class. Deal, a former congressman, has argued his policies have helped state revenues and jobs increase despite tough economic times while protecting education from budget cuts.

Deal said last week that he expected the former president would take a more public role in the campaign, adding he didn’t think it would persuade voters.

“I respect President Carter, and if I were a grandfather I’d probably want to support my grandson too,” Deal said. “But we are not a state nor a nation in which titles such as governor are inherited by virtue of your legacy.”

___

Associated Press writer Kathleen Foody in Marietta, Georgia, contributed to this report. Follow Christina Almeida Cassidy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Christina.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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