Opinion: Jesse Jackson, Obama backer, says Clinton has ‘powerful case’ as VP

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who you may remember endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, said today that Sen. Hillary Clinton has made ‘a powerful case’’ for her candidacy for vice president.

Obama should take his time choosing a running mate, Jackson said in an interview, but Clinton offers some major advantages.

‘As he surveys the field, it must be someone who is compatible with him philosophically, someone who is loyal to his agenda and someone who brings a constituency that matters and the capacity to become the next president, as the Constitution requires should disaster strike,’ Jackson said

Clinton, he said, meets those requirements. ‘She may not be the only one who does, but she certainly does.

‘She starts with 18 million votes,’ he said. ‘She starts having gained a following among Latinos and she has substantial support among African Americans. ... Women will be looking to her place in the scheme of things.’ Our colleague Marc Silva has the full story over in the Swamp.

While you’re here, be sure to take the web poll on whether Obama should offer the second spot to Clinton and what she should say. The thousands of responses from Ticket readers may surprise you.

--Andrew Malcolm