They Go Together Like Peanut Farmer and Jelly

Howard Dean’s list of high-profile pals just keeps growing.

In the midst of the caucus-eve campaign frenzy across Iowa, the Democratic presidential front-runner will make a pilgrimage to Plains, Ga. for a tete-a-tete with former president, ex-governor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter on Sunday.

Although the former Vermont governor will drop in on Carter’s Sunday school class, share a pew with him in church and visit a high school together, Carter is not expected to endorse him. The former president, though, is expected to say nice things about him. Aides say Carter’s quality time with Dean simply reinforces the candidate’s conversations with Carter a year and a half ago seeking advice on a presidential run.

During an appearance on CNN’s “Larry King Live” in September, Carter said he saw a little of himself in Dean. Dean visited his home in 2002, “when nobody was paying any attention to me at all” to ask the former president about his campaign 28 years ago.

Native Americans Nix Dean

Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark on Monday accepted a minor endorsement that was as much a dig at Dean as it was support for Clark.

Vermont’s Abenaki Nation Indian tribe -- which clashed with the former governor over official state recognition -- announced its support of Clark at an event in Concord, N.H. The 6,000-member tribe tossed its endorsement to Clark because he isn’t Dean, tribal leaders said, and because the Clark campaign was the only one to return their calls and messages.

During 11 years in the Statehouse, Dean “didn’t do anything for our native people,” said tribal historian Fred Wiseman. Dean opposed the Abenakis’ efforts because of his stance against Indian gaming, which he now supports.

Clark “is the only one who took us seriously,” Wiseman said. The tribe has been seeking federal recognition for three decades and state recognition for years. Such status would qualify members for federal and student loans and help protect ancient burial sites.

You’re John Edwards? I’m John Edwards too!

Candidate John Edwards, meet voter John Edwards.

Edwards the voter, a 66-year-old landscaper, had been trying for months to cross paths with Edwards the candidate, but kept missing the North Carolina senator during campaign swings through Sioux City, at the western edge of Iowa.

On Monday, he finally got his chance.

During a question-and-answer session after a speech at Mary J. Treglia Community House, the candidate pointed to the landscaper, seated near the back of the cinder-block room, to get his question.

“How about the high prescriptions? What are you going to do about them?” the landscaper asked but then jumped in before the senator could answer and added, “Before you answer that, my name is John Edwards too.”

As the crowd -- and Edwards -- laughed, the senator worked his way to the back as the landscaper rose to greet him. The candidate raised their clasped hands above his head and said, “How about John Edwards for president?”

Knit-Picky

Clark and the Argyle Sweater Drama continued to amuse reporters and campaign workers Sunday, if less so the candidate. Last week, Clark appeared at an event sporting a slightly oversize and, um, remarkably colorful argyle--which reporters realized his brother-in-law Gene Caulfield had just been wearing.

Later, he brought reporters to an L.L. Bean store to chronicle the purchase of his very own sweater, in plain Kelly green. “I was cold,” he told giggling volunteers in Manchester, N.H., on Sunday. “Gene had on this warm wool coat and this warm wool sweater!”

On Tuesday, the campaign put the now-famous sweater up for auction on the Internet, with proceeds to go to charity.

Duly Quoted

“I feel like I’m going to tea.” -- A political reporter’s reaction to the crustless tuna and egg salad canapes provided to the news media by MSNBC at Sunday’s Brown and Black debate in Des Moines.

“It’s a fascinating new book, Pete Rose’s book. In the book he admits that he used to date cocktail waitresses, groupies and strippers. I don’t know if that will keep him out of the Hall of Fame, but he is now the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.” -- Jay Leno on NBC’s “Tonight Show” Monday.

Compiled from staff, wire and Web reports by Times staff researcher Susannah Rosenblatt.