The Associated Press reports that Iranians voted for a new president Friday. “The front-runner in Friday’s vote is cleric Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was president from 1989 to 1997.”

Second place would appear to be a contest between a Khatami protege, former Culture Minister Mostafa Moin, 54, and a former police chief, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, 44, who appeals to conservatives. But they share one trait: seeking to become the first non-cleric president since Mohammad Ali Rajai was assassinated in 1981.

Yikes.

“‘I hope we have a fair election, free of manipulation’, Rafsanjani said.”

Did we offer Jimmy Carter? As he has said himself, “The Carter Center has monitored more than 50 elections, all of them held under contentious, troubled or dangerous conditions.” Jimmy Carter could have, perhaps should have, been there!

Rafsanjani has portrayed himself as the most experienced figure to handle the sensitive nuclear talks. Washington claims Iran seeks nuclear arms, but Iran say the program is only for energy production.

Oh! Perhaps another former President would be more to their liking.