Jesse Jackson to Share Stage With Clinton

Despite their strained relations, the Rev. Jesse Jackson is set to appear on stage with Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton later this week to kick off a national black voter registration drive.

Jackson and the Democratic National Committee are expected to announce the agreement today, said Frank Watkins, a Jackson aide. And Jackson and Clinton are tentatively scheduled to appear together next Saturday in Philadelphia or Atlanta.

Committee Chairman Ronald H. Brown, who agreed to provide Jackson with $1.5 million for the voter drive, acted as the intermediary in the talks between him and Clinton aides, Watkins said.

Presidential campaigns are prohibited under federal election laws from funding voter registration drives. The Democratic National Committee can, but it sought prior approval from the Clinton campaign concerning Jackson’s role.

Relations between Jackson and Clinton, which never have been smooth, worsened in June when Clinton, at a meeting of Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, criticized rap singer Sister Souljah for comments she had made regarding the Los Angeles riots.

The tiff lasted for several weeks before Jackson announced his support for the Arkansas governor’s bid for the presidency just before the Democratic National Convention in mid-July. Jackson has said that he and Clinton have not spoken directly since the convention.