Rev. Jesse Jackson, suggesting that his political future may parallel that of Mayor Harold Washington, said Saturday that ”encouragement continues to grow” that he again seek the presidency.
Jackson said a decision on whether he will seek the 1988 Democratic nomination remains ”some time in the future,” but he tied his hopes to the mayor`s re-election on April 7.
A victory by Washington would ”set the tone for 1988,” Jackson said at a packed Operation PUSH meeting here. ”If we can withstand racial
polarization in Chicago, we can withstand it across the nation.”
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He added: ”Twenty-two years ago, we were between Selma and Montgomery, marching for the right to vote. Now we have a chance to win the nomination of the whole party.”
Jackson said he placed second among Democratic contenders in a recent poll of voters in Southern states, behind Sen. Sam Nunn (D., Ga.). Nunn said last month that he is not seeking the nomination.
”The numbers are there,” Jackson shouted, his voice booming from loudspeakers in the PUSH auditorium at 930 E. 50th St.
There are 13 million registered black voters in the United States, he said, and ”any combination of 10 million votes” can get the nomination.