ABSTRACT
The story of who Carter was, and what he stood for, and why, and what sort of President he might make, came later, as the election of 1976 defined itself away from its battle phase to higher concerns. 1976 was the year for a moralist and Carter turned out to be the one to make that very different story work. Carter's religious identification had a finer focus than his southernism. Voters slowly picking up on the Carter personality as the primaries rolled on could not help but read of his preacher like style, his moralizing emphasis, and his special affinity with black religious leaders and congregations. As the new Presidential season opened the call went out for "leadership". Convinced of Carter's personal goodness, people asked for a sure sense of direction, a firm hand on the tiller, even perhaps a little charisma again. But few offered clear counsel as to which path they wanted to be led along.
