Jesse Jackson is the 1988 Democratic Nominee

Maybe Jesse was calling for universal healthcare, pretty much like every other advanced economy, greater spending on infrastructure, and education,

shall we call it left center?

In fact, and a lesson learned from Clinton in '92 or Obama in '08, Jesse wants to avoid the mistake of raising high expectations for what are really pretty modest reforms.
 
This could do long term damage to Jewish support for the Democratic Party.

More broadly speaking, the charge that he is a shakedown artist is a well known one and while I am not sure what legs it had in 1988, it would certainly not play well for a party that had a serious perception issue on crime.
 
Powell and Rice had no interest in running for President. Tim Scott maybe, but that's 2012/2016 at the earliest.

JC Watts and Michael Steele seem like the only prospects.

If memory serves Powell was interested in running but his wife was very firmly against it. Bob Woodward reported that she made it clear she would walk out if he bid for the presidency. Her view was his lifespan would be measured in minutes if he came anywhere near the Oval Office.
 
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