Handling of Katrina Prompts Carter Son to Seek Senate Seat

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Jack Carter, the oldest child of former President Carter (search), said he's considering a run for the Senate, citing unhappiness with the federal government's handling of Hurricane Katrina.

"I'm more concerned than ever with the way that the country is headed," said Carter, 58.

Carter told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in Tuesday's editions that he's considering a challenge of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., in 2006. He termed himself a social liberal with conservative Southern roots and a business background that taught him that "you pay for what you spend."

"I'm very seriously exploring it," he said. "I had not planned to run for office. I have no infrastructure and this is new to me."

Carter and his wife, Elizabeth, have lived in Las Vegas since 2003, operating an investment consulting firm. He said he began looking at the Senate race following Hurricane Katrina (search), adding he was offended by the federal government's response to the disaster.

Carter, son of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, was born in Virginia and raised in Georgia. He was in his late 20s when his father won the presidency and did not live in the White House (search).

Carter said he spoke with his father, who served as the nation's 39th president from 1977 to 1981, about a Senate bid, adding, "He thinks I'd be good at it."

Carter's name has previously been floated for political office in Nevada. An effort last year was made to recruit him to run against Republican Congressman Jon Porter. Carter said at the time that since he was new to the area, "I didn't think it would be polite."