Jackson Expected to Pass on Bid for Nomination

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, twice a Democratic presidential candidate, apparently will not seek the White House in 2000, increasing the likelihood the fight for the party’s nomination will involve only two major candidates.

Jackson’s wife, Jacqueline, has told friends her husband will not run. Jackson is expected to announce his decision today, disclosing his intentions on the campaign Web site of his son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.).

The younger Jackson has strongly advocated his father joining the race.

If, as anticipated, Jackson takes a pass, former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey would remain the only declared competitor to Vice President Al Gore. And no other well-known Democrat appears to be actively considering a prospective candidacy.

The unusually narrow field stems largely from Gore’s status as the heavy favorite to capture the nomination. But the one-on-one competition gives Bradley a clear shot at upsetting the vice president.

Other prominent Democrats who have opted out of the race are Sens. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, John F. Kerry of Massachusetts and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri.

Jackson said on Black Entertainment Television’s “Lead Story” Sunday that he was “not very motivated at this point” to seek the Democratic nomination. “While I have not decided altogether to say yes or no, I’m inclined not to,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Chicago on Tuesday, Jackson said, “You can rest assured that tomorrow we will share with you what we intend to do and how. . . . We intend to impact public policy in a major way in 1999 and 2000.”

Jackson, 57, has never held public office but is one of the country’s best-known black political leaders.

He mounted White House bids in 1984 and 1988. He ran especially well in his second race and was the last challenger to the eventual nominee, then-Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts.