ATLANTA -- Hamilton Jordan, who served as President Jimmy Carter's chief of staff, said Wednesday he's a Barack Obama fan, and he opposes Hillary Clinton "because she's so polarizing."

Jordan, speaking to the Atlanta Press Club, delved into politics while delivering a speech centered on his fight with cancer that began 22 years ago when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, followed by bouts with melanoma and prostate cancer.

"I've been to the edge of life and had to face my own mortality," he said. "I'm here to tell you, I'm not through yet. We've been blessed with great medicine and great friends."

He mentioned the three U.S. senators battling for the While House -- Democrats Clinton and Obama and Republican John McCain -- and drew a chuckle from the audience by saying "President Clinton, God forbid."

He added that he doesn't want McCain "in the oval office because he's too ready to go to war."

Jordan said regardless of who is elected "I'd sure like for Sam Nunn to be in the room as Secretary of State or something."

Nunn, the former Georgia U.S. senator, was in the room at The Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta.

Jordan appeared on behalf of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, a $1 billion effort organized by former Gov. Roy Barnes and funded by tobacco settlement proceeds.

He said when Republican Sonny Perdue was elected governor, "I thought it was the end of the Georgia Cancer Coalition." He said he was pleased that Perdue continue the successful program.

Jordan recalled that after "the American people sent us back to Atlanta in 1980" by unseating Carter, he helped his wife, Dorothy, begin a summer camp for children with cancer called Camp Sunshine.

He said 38 kids showed up at the first camp 25 years ago, and people kept trying to give him the credit for Camp Sunshine.

"I told him that Dorothy deserved 90 percent of the credit. Then I heard her say, 'you jackass, 99 percent."

In 1992, Jordan worked on the campaign of independent H. Ross Perot. He said he had thought there might be an opportunity for a third party candidate this year "but the oxygen for that particular movement basically is gone now" because people from both extremes were eliminated.

"We are an Obama family," he said. "This is a brilliant young man."

Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Endorses Obama

The head of Georgia's Democratic Party is backing Barack Obama.

Jane Kidd had remained neutral in the primary contest but says she thought it was important that her vote reflect the preference of Georgia voters. Obama won Georgia on Super Tuesday with 66 percent of the vote.

Kidd is one of Georgia's 13 superdelegates who could help determine the outcome of the race if the contest with Hillary Rodham Clinton remains tight. She was one of only four who remained publicly uncommitted.

Kidd says having Obama as the Democratic nominee puts Georgia in play in the general election in November. The state is heavily Republican.