POLITICS ’88 : Jackson Decides Whether He’d Accept VP Role : Refuses to Say What That Decision Is, Lists Qualifications Needed

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, taking another precise step in his political minuet with Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, let reporters know Thursday that he had decided whether he would accept an offer to be Dukakis’ running mate.

To no one’s surprise, Jackson coyly refused to say what that decision is, but he spelled out a list of qualifications he hopes to see in a running mate. Those criteria seemed to fit only one major figure in American politics--the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

And Jackson dismissed, as he has before, the polls that indicate he would weaken Dukakis’ ticket. “The polls don’t show (the people) who would vote who have never voted . . . what would happen when we unleash hope in our country,” Jackson said. “We cannot go forward looking backward.”

‘Earned Consideration’

Over the last few weeks, Jackson has repeatedly made comments that fuel a perception that he wants the vice presidency--starting by declaring that he and his constituents had “earned consideration,” and then defining that as deserving “an offer.” But when pressed about those assertions--particularly on whether he plans to press Dukakis for the second spot--he has stepped back.

This flirtatious pattern has served to keep the Democratic Party leadership off balance, and to raise the hopes and expectations of Jackson’s supporters. Carrying more than 1,100 delegates to next month’s Democratic convention in Atlanta, Jackson remains a force in the party, despite Dukakis’ lock on the presidential nomination.

Jackson’s delegates dismiss the idea that having Jackson as the vice presidential nominee would hurt the party’s chances. “I personally think it’s the best ticket,” said Geri Ruth, a New York delegate who had met with Jackson on Wednesday.

Got 7 Million Votes

Jackson, she said, “proved he could get 7 million votes (during the primary season), and that’s where the votes are going.”

Jackson and Dukakis huddled privately in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and Jackson said the two had discussed the vice presidency in greater detail than they had before.

Jackson confirmed Wednesday that he had received a request from Dukakis for personal and financial information, which indicates that he is among those being screened as a possible running mate. At that point, he repeated that he had not yet decided whether he wanted to be tapped.

On Thursday, he changed his position to indicate he had decided but said: “We have not yet made that decision public.” Jackson added that he has not shared his decision with Dukakis.

Balancing the Ticket

Jackson said the presidential nominee has traditionally balanced his ticket by adding “someone with one foot in the status quo and one foot in the past. We think it should be one foot in the status quo and one foot in the future. . . . We must remove any remaining barriers based on race or sex or religion in the highest two offices in our country.”

Jackson, who has criticized Dukakis as too conservative and cautious, also spoke of a need for ideological balance. And he also reminded reporters that he is a Southerner, which many analysts say is an important asset in a running mate hoping to broaden the Massachusetts governor’s appeal.

The vice presidential nominee, Jackson added, “must cover an area of weakness that the President or the White House might have. Right now, that area of weakness is the Third World,” a policy area in which Jackson has specialized. Indeed, before he left for a campaign trip to Puerto Rico, Jackson met with a delegation of top Angolan government officials.

Changes in Party Rules

After a meeting with his campaign’s state chairmen, Jackson also offered a list of changes he hopes to see in Democratic Party rules. He has repeatedly complained that state and national rules have prevented him from receiving a share of delegates commensurate with the number of popular votes he has received.

Jackson said he hopes to assure that any future candidate receiving at least 15% of the vote in any state wins a share of its delegates.