Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. defends Obama campaign on race issues

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) on Friday challenged critics who have complained that Senator Barack Obama has ignored black issues and told audience members at the Congressional Black Caucus conference that Obama has to be strategic to win the presidential election.

"There were those in our community, while Barack Obama was running for president in Iowa, who wanted Barack to leave the campaign trail in Iowa and go to Jena, Louisiana and talk about Jena. The problem is, ain't no black folk in Iowa, and trying to win the Jena debate in Iowa is a way not to win...Iowa."

"Michael Baisden, and Tavis and Tom and everybody can talk about Jena all they want to," he said. "That ain't got nothing to do with Iowa." The mention of Tom was apparently a reference to Tom Joyner, the host of the syndicated radio program, The Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Jackson, a national chairman of Senator Obama's presidential campaign, made the comments during opening remarks he delivered at his annual issues forum on winning campaign strategies, moderated by Tom Joyner Morning Show co-host Sybil Wilkes.

In a speech that was part serious and part light-hearted, Jackson challenged critics who said that Obama should have spent more time talking about black issues in the New Hampshire primary campaign, in the Nevada caucus campaign and on Super Tuesday.

Jackson also reminded African Americans that Obama has to be smart and strategic to win the campaign. "We are in a race for electors. This is not a popular vote contest," Jackson said.

The Chicago-based congressman said the candidate's duty is not just to get the most votes but to get the most electors to win the presidency. "Winning with the most popular votes, i.e. Al Gore, ain't enough," he said. "This is not a symbolic campaign," he said. "We're running to win."

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