Jesse Jackson endorses Bernie Sanders for president as Vermont senator fights back against Joe Biden
- Jesse Jackson, the legendary civil rights leader and presidential candidate, endorsed Bernie Sanders on Sunday
- His blessing comes ahead of Michigan’s primary on Tuesday
- Jackson won Michigan in 1988 presidential primary
- He also has strong influence among African American voters
- Sanders is attempting to repeat his Michigan win from 2016 as he fights against Joe Biden in Democratic primary
Jesse Jackson, the legendary civil rights leader and presidential candidate, endorsed Bernie Sanders on Sunday as the Vermont senator fights back against Joe Biden.
Jackson’s blessing came ahead of Tuesday’s primary in Michigan, a contest he won in his 1988 presidential campaign.
Sanders won Michigan in the 2016 Democratic primary – a victory that shocked rival Hillary Clinton’s camp.
Jesse Jackson endorsed Bernie Sanders for president on Sunday; the two men are seen together at a 2016 event in Chicago
Jesse Jackson said in his endorsement Sanders would heavily consider having a black woman as his running mate
He has campaigned there heavily to repeat the win and reclaim the frontrunner status from Biden, who surged ahead in the Democratic primary after a strong showing in the Super Tuesday contests.
‘The most progressive social and economic path gives us the best chance to catch up and Senator Bernie Sanders represents the most progressive path. That’s why I choose to endorse him today,’ Jackson said in a statement.
He will campaign for Sanders in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Sunday. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will campaign for Sanders in Michigan on Sunday also.
Jackson could also be a boon for Sanders in Illinois, which holds its primary on March 17. The reverend has strong ties to Chicago and his son used to represent a section of the city in Congress.
Additionally, Jackson still carries heavy influence in the African American community and could help Sanders combat Biden’s strong support among that voting bloc.
‘As I think you well know, Jesse has been one of the great civil rights leaders in the modern history of this country,’ Sanders said Sunday on ABC’s ‘This Week.’
Jesse Jackson during the 1988 presidential campaign, when he won Michigan
Jackson’s blessing could help Sanders cut in to Joe Biden’s support among African American voters
Jackson noted Biden never asked him for his endorsement.
‘The Biden campaign has not reached out to me or asked for my support. The Sanders campaign has,’ he said in his statement.
He noted the Sanders’ campaign responded to his concerns on voting rights, taxes needed on the wealthy, renewing a U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and having a single payer health care plan.
Jackson also noted ‘Senator Sanders acknowledges Rev. Jackson’s challenge to put an African American woman on the 2020 Democratic presidential ticket and will give it the highest consideration. Senator Sanders has also agreed to make sure that black women are in his cabinet and are at the highest levels throughout his administration should he be elected president.’
Sanders said he is ‘proud’ of the endorsement.
‘What Rev. Jackson understands is that we have to move aggressively to wipe out all forms of racism in this country and we need an economic agenda that speaks to the needs of working people, not just the billionaire class,’ he told CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ ‘I think with Rev. Jackson — I think we got a real boost in our campaign.’