Rev. Jesse Jackson Endorses Bernie Sanders

Civil rights activist and former Democratic presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday.

Why it matters: Jackson’s endorsement is the kind of boost Sanders needs as he looks to slow the momentum of Joe Biden, whose surge in South Carolina and on Super Tuesday was driven largely by black voters.

What he’s saying: In a statement Sunday, Jackson listed 13 reasons why he’s supporting Sanders, including the senator’s support for national voting rights, a civil rights commission, a wealth tax, funding for HBCUs, a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, and a single-payer health care system.

Jackson, who clashed with Biden when the two Democrats ran for president in 1988, said that the former vice president’s campaign did not reach out to him or ask for his support.

Between the lines: Jackson will appear with Sanders at an event in Grand Rapids on Sunday, two days before Michigan holds its Democratic primary, where 125 delegates are up for grabs.

A Biden win in Michigan, where Sanders won a surprise victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, could be the knockout blow for the Vermont senator’s campaign.
Of note: Sanders endorsed Jackson’s campaign during the 1988 presidential election, saying the civil rights leader “has done more than any other candidate in living memory to bring together the disenfranchised.”

Featured image: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Source URL: Axios