Current and former allies of Jackson’s have told me repeatedly that he’s struggled to figure out his next move since watching Obama’s ascent in 2004. Initially, he couldn’t help but feel like he was supposed to be the young, smart, dynamic black politician from Chicago with the interpersonal and communication skills to cross racial and class lines–if only he weren’t saddled with the name Jesse Jackson.
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Over the summer, starting with his public disagreements with his father and his appearances at the Democratic convention–his powerful “Illinois is America!” speech and his attempts to kiss and make up with foes–Jackson launched his own bid, for Obama’s seat in the Senate. And he hit this campaign no less hard than Obama’s, seeking political and newspaper endorsements and pitching his case to anyone he could. Supporters even set up a Facebook group for his effort.
Tuesday U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald warned reporters against jumping to conclusions about anyone who appears to be described in the affidavit, and both Jackson and Montgomery say Junior did nothing wrong. In fact, I’m pretty sure Jackson was telling us that he’d still like to be a U.S. senator when he said he hoped the people of Illinois and the entire country “will measure me by the content of my character.”
