November 19, 2013 – The current state of the 2016 race for the Republican and Democratic Party presidential nominations shows a tight race for the GOP and a runaway for the Democrats.

An average of several polls shows Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie with 17% followed by Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul 16%, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan 12%, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio with 11.8% each, Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz with 11% and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal tied at 4.5% each.

For the Democrats former Secretary of State Hillary is supported by 65% of poll respondents followed by Vice President Joe Biden with 10%, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren with 6%, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo 3%, and finally  Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner are tied at 1% each.

November 16, 2013 - President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama along with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Arlington National Cemetery the week to honor President John F. Kennedy. During the ceremony on Wednesday November 20 , the Obamas and Clintons will lay a wreath on the grave of JFK.  This Friday November 22, 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy, who was slain as he rode in motorcade through Dallas ,Texas.

Also on Wednesday President Obama will present former President Bill Clinton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Through Executive Order on February 22, 1963, President Kennedy directed that the Medal of Freedom would now be known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Kennedy died before the first Presidential Medals of Freedom were awarded on December 6, 1963. President Lyndon Johnson posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to JFK.

In addition to former President Clinton receiving the honor, other 2013 recipients will be baseball great Ernie Banks and activist Gloria Steinem. In a tribute to President Kennedy, many of the past receipts will be present at the ceremony.

While the colors red, white and blue have been used on campaign buttons for over a 100 years, Jimmy Carter campaign buttons are known for their distinctive green and white coloring. The green coloring was used on the campaign's buttons, posters, bumper stickers and pamphlets to reinforce Carter's heritage as a peanut farmer.

Little known outside his home state, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter declared that he was running for President of the United States on December 12, 1974.

Campaigning tirelessly through the state of Iowa, Carter stunned the political establishment when on January 16, 1976 he won the Iowa Caucuses.  Carter soon followed that with a win in the all important New Hampshire presidential primary on February 24, 1976. So began a steady series of primary wins which by June of that year would insure Carter’s nomination for President of the United States at the Democratic National Convention held in New York City in July of 1976.

Strongly emphasizing his rural roots and Washington outsider status, the Carter campaign after adding Walter Mondale as vice presidential running mate continued to use green and white coloring on all presidential campaign items.

During the fall campaign, Carter would debate then President Gerald in four television debates. The key debate would be the second one on October 6, 1976 when President Ford stated that "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe."
This gaffe would follow Ford through the rest of the campaign and conclude with Jimmy Carter being elected the 39^th President of the United States on November 2, 1976.

 After four tumultuous years, President Carter would continue with his signature green and white colors for his 1980 re-election campaign.

However due to a combination of high interest rates , high inflation and a  protracted hostage situation at the U.S. Embassy in Iran, the green and white colored Jimmy Carter campaign buttons not longer held the magic they once did.On November 4, 1980 President Carter lost his bid for re-election, and Ronald Reagan was elected the 40^th President of the United States.

Carter marked a milestone on September 8, 2012 when he surpassed Herbert Hoover for the longest ex-presidency at 11,544 days and counting.

November 13, 2013 – A new poll out today shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tied in a head to head race for the White House in 2016. Clinton has the support of 42% of those polled to 43% for Christie.

 When compared to other potential Republican opponents, Mrs. Clinton leads  U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky by 49 to 40 percent  , U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas 51 to 36 percent  and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin 49 to 40 percent.

 Christie , who cruised to a landslide re-election victory last week in New Jersey, leads Mrs. Clinton by 48 to 32 percent among independent voters.