Remember the year 1988? The guy with the funny eyebrows from Massachusetts (or was it Greece?). When "Perestroika" and "Lockerbie" had entered the popular lexicon? The Dan Quayle jokes. The "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy!" zinger.
And a Presidential candidate by the name Jesse Jackson.
By March 12, 1988 -- almost 20 years ago to the day -- Jackson had won (depending on your math) 11-13 primary and caucus contests. Jackson's delegate count was 1219.
For those keeping score, Jackson's 1988 record matches Clinton's 2008 performance almost exactly. Hillary currently stands at around 1225 pledged delegates, and (depending on your math) 13-15 primary/caucus wins.
But Senator Clinton, you're no Jesse Jackson....
Jackson had no 527 groups around to donate unlimited funds. There was no positive mainstream media message -- or any mention of Jackson at all.
There would be no super-delegate rescue to push Jackson over the top.
For the good of the party, since he could not win, Jackson suspended his campaign following an overwhelming loss in Wisconsin. Ordinarily, his strong performance might have merited a cabinet position. Or even the VP slot. The VP, of course, went to Lloyd Bensen (something perhaps for Obama to keep in mind should Hillary demand VP consideration).
Although I only heard the first 5 minutes, Jesse Jackson had one hell of a campaign speech. He was the only Presidential candidate in modern times (that I know of) to visit my tiny, deeply conservative rural town. Our High School class belatedly got permission to go see him -- but only during lunch hour. Jackson arrived late, and was just a few minutes into his speech when teachers hustled all of us students out of there before lunch hour was up. I don't know what Jackson must have thought to see such a huge exodus of students walking out on his speech. A few students defied orders and stayed behind anyway, and were punished with suspension by the Principal.
Granted, no comparison is perfect. It was highly unlikely Jackson would have prevailed in the General, whereas Hillary can probably win. Still, it just goes to show that a grass-roots candidate can only go so far.