An Alternate Alternate History
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The New York primary would claim two candidates. Dick Gephardt, who came in fourth, in the single digits, dropped out and gave up his delegates to whoever the numerical leader would be. Third place would also drop out – Dukakis. The inability to carry a large northeastern state so close to the make-up of Massachusetts was heartbreaking to the campaign. They had no vision of a way forward. Pennsylvania and Ohio were the two major upcoming competitions. Both states were heavy blue-collar states, a demographic that Dukakis was failing to reach in virtually every competition, with Biden playing to their roots and Jackson syphoning off minorities and the more liberal primary voters. Dukakis as well said he would pledge his delegates to the leader at the end of the primaries. Joe Biden would win New York, finally cementing his leader status. With the Empire State under his belt, and the delegates from Gore and Dukakis effectively pledged to him, the public at large accepted Biden as the Democratic candidate.
However, nobody told that to Reverend Jackson.
Jesse Jackson was not a typical presidential candidate. He never held elective office, for starters. In 1988, he was arguably the most visible living icon of civil rights. And he acted like it. Even after Biden’s comfortable win in New York, Jackson refused to publically bow out. He was no political neophyte, though. Jackson read the tea leaves after New York. A private hour-long meeting was held amongst friends the following day with Jackson, Biden and Governor Mario Cuomo, familiar with both candidates. All three stood on the same stage as Cuomo said he endorsed Biden, reflecting the will of his state. Some in the press wondered, mostly privately, almost grudgingly, why they could not be covering Governor Cuomo’s presidential campaign? Maybe in ’92, or ’96…
Jackson continued to campaign until the very last state, winning just one contest in the final fourteen (Washington, D.C.), saying he would not bow out; even at the convention he would not release his delegates. He represented a constituency and their voice (read: his) would be heard. While all the other contenders spoke of party unity and fell in line behind Senator Biden, Jackson was still campaigning, arguing for the issues. There was no personal animosity between Jackson and Biden; their final debates were very cordial, with Biden elbowing his competitor, asking if he was interested in the Vice Presidency. These good-humored comments likely did not help in the next couple months, while rumors swirled about who would be the Vice Presidential nominees.
After his lock as the presidential candidate, Biden was criticized by his own Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Bishop Robert Edward Mulvee over his stance on abortion, which goes against the church's pro-life beliefs and teachings. The diocese confirmed that even if elected president, Biden would not be allowed to speak at Catholic schools. Biden was soon barred from receiving Holy Communion by the bishop of his original hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, because of his support for abortion rights; however, Biden did continue to receive Communion at his local Delaware parish. Biden said he believed that life began at conception but that he would not impose his personal religious views on others.
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PK – “In 1985, you spoke at Notre Dame about the separation of faith and politics. As a Catholic you walked a fine line that Biden and others had to face after that speech, mostly on the topic of abortion.”
MC – “I said it then and I think it still holds true that there is a troubling mix of religion and politics. And it pollutes both spheres. The simplest way to convey the message I spoke of that day is “You don’t push your religion through politics because tomorrow somebody else could do the same to you. It is just one of the problems that still persist to this day.”
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The New York primary would claim two candidates. Dick Gephardt, who came in fourth, in the single digits, dropped out and gave up his delegates to whoever the numerical leader would be. Third place would also drop out – Dukakis. The inability to carry a large northeastern state so close to the make-up of Massachusetts was heartbreaking to the campaign. They had no vision of a way forward. Pennsylvania and Ohio were the two major upcoming competitions. Both states were heavy blue-collar states, a demographic that Dukakis was failing to reach in virtually every competition, with Biden playing to their roots and Jackson syphoning off minorities and the more liberal primary voters. Dukakis as well said he would pledge his delegates to the leader at the end of the primaries. Joe Biden would win New York, finally cementing his leader status. With the Empire State under his belt, and the delegates from Gore and Dukakis effectively pledged to him, the public at large accepted Biden as the Democratic candidate.
However, nobody told that to Reverend Jackson.
Jesse Jackson was not a typical presidential candidate. He never held elective office, for starters. In 1988, he was arguably the most visible living icon of civil rights. And he acted like it. Even after Biden’s comfortable win in New York, Jackson refused to publically bow out. He was no political neophyte, though. Jackson read the tea leaves after New York. A private hour-long meeting was held amongst friends the following day with Jackson, Biden and Governor Mario Cuomo, familiar with both candidates. All three stood on the same stage as Cuomo said he endorsed Biden, reflecting the will of his state. Some in the press wondered, mostly privately, almost grudgingly, why they could not be covering Governor Cuomo’s presidential campaign? Maybe in ’92, or ’96…
Jackson continued to campaign until the very last state, winning just one contest in the final fourteen (Washington, D.C.), saying he would not bow out; even at the convention he would not release his delegates. He represented a constituency and their voice (read: his) would be heard. While all the other contenders spoke of party unity and fell in line behind Senator Biden, Jackson was still campaigning, arguing for the issues. There was no personal animosity between Jackson and Biden; their final debates were very cordial, with Biden elbowing his competitor, asking if he was interested in the Vice Presidency. These good-humored comments likely did not help in the next couple months, while rumors swirled about who would be the Vice Presidential nominees.
After his lock as the presidential candidate, Biden was criticized by his own Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Bishop Robert Edward Mulvee over his stance on abortion, which goes against the church's pro-life beliefs and teachings. The diocese confirmed that even if elected president, Biden would not be allowed to speak at Catholic schools. Biden was soon barred from receiving Holy Communion by the bishop of his original hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, because of his support for abortion rights; however, Biden did continue to receive Communion at his local Delaware parish. Biden said he believed that life began at conception but that he would not impose his personal religious views on others.
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PK – “In 1985, you spoke at Notre Dame about the separation of faith and politics. As a Catholic you walked a fine line that Biden and others had to face after that speech, mostly on the topic of abortion.”
MC – “I said it then and I think it still holds true that there is a troubling mix of religion and politics. And it pollutes both spheres. The simplest way to convey the message I spoke of that day is “You don’t push your religion through politics because tomorrow somebody else could do the same to you. It is just one of the problems that still persist to this day.”
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