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Members of the St. Paul summit faced the challenge of settling their differences not only with Mondale but also among themselves. Despite Jackson's success in the primaries, many black voters and office holders have mixed feelings about accepting him as their pre-eminent powerbroker. This division was apparent during the nomination race, when some black leaders felt obligated or eager to join his historic quest, while others chose to support Mondale. The eventual lineups left recriminations on both sides, especially in the South. In South Carolina, for example, black State Senate Candidate McKinley Washington Jr., a Mondale supporter, has complained that Jackson backers in his district, which is 54% black, threatened to sit out his race, possibly tipping it to his white primary opponent. In Mississippi, a new tier of black party leaders who were active on Jackson's behalf has criticized the former Vice President for continuing to deal only with Mondale supporters. Charged Greenville Attorney Charles Victor McTeer: "Mr. Mondale has been slow to recognize the new black leadership in the South."
Jackson's "embrace" of the Democratic ticket probably will not settle the questions about his future role as a black leader, but it is likely to heal for the moment the divisions within the party. "Most of us are big enough to look beyond schisms in the past and look toward defeating Reagan," said Alabama State Senator Michael Figures, a Jackson supporter. "Jesse's message helps Mondale immensely." In a Gallup poll released last week by the Joint Center for Political Studies, 88% of blacks said they would vote for Mondale.
"Reverend Jackson will be working closely with me," Mondale declared. "We will be campaigning together." Jackson promptly headed to Virginia, where he met with 13 Southern state party chairmen who told him he would be welcome to campaign in their region. Despite fears that Jackson could become a loose cannon, Mondale's aides clearly prefer the prospect of working along with Jackson to any alternative.
—By William R. Doemer. Reported by Sam Allis/Washington and Jack E. White with Mondale