ATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter is cautioning Democrats that their path to defeating President Donald Trump depends on independents and moderates.

Speaking at his presidential center in Atlanta on Tuesday, Carter said U.S. policies on immigration, the environment and human rights will not improve while Trump is in office.

Carter also noted polls showing independents souring on the Republican administration.

But the Democratic former president warned that moderates “need to know they can invest their vote in the Democratic Party” in the November midterms and the 2020 presidential election.

Carter acknowledged that he supported democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders over establishment favorite Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, but Carter added that too “liberal a program” can scare many voters.

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