COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama launched a new radio spot in South Carolina Tuesday declaring that he is following in the footsteps of Jesse Jackson, who ran for president in 1984 and 1988.
The ad is narrated by Rev. Jackson's son, Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., who says in the scrip that "Barack Obama has taken up the torch" from his father.
Jackson won the South Carolina Democratic caucus in 1988.
The 60-second spot suggests that Obama has a stronger connection to the black community than other Democrats.
"A lot of politicians call themselves our friends," Jackson Jr. says in the ad. "But Obama has a heart that beats for our community. And he’s dedicated his life to the struggle."
In September, the elder Jackson told a South Carolina audience that Obama was "acting like he's white" in responding to the Jena 6 case. Jackson has since reaffirmed his support for Obama.
The radio ad is Obama's third here, and it will run on 36 gospel and R&B stations across the state. His chief rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, launched her first radio ad here last month, which is also targeted at African-American voters.
While Obama and Clinton are running radio ads, no Democratic presidential candidate has purchased television airtime in the state.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/23/new-radio-ad-obama-carrying-jesse-jacksons-legacy/As much as I personally dislike Jesse Jackson Sr., I hope this works.