Be ‘Activists for Ticket,’ Jackson Tells Democrats

WASHINGTON — Jesse Jackson, saying the Democratic ticket is “in a race . . . not in trouble,” urged House Democrats today to go home and boost the campaign of Michael S. Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen.

After a half-hour meeting with the Democrats in the House chamber, Jackson told reporters, “Our challenge is to leave this place now, not as analysts of the ticket, but activists for the ticket.”

“The issue is not at all what can the ticket do for Democratic leadership, but what can the Democratic leadership do, precinct by precinct and district by district, for the ticket? We have the equation to win,” Jackson said.

Jackson’s visit to Capitol Hill came as Congress was within a day or two of final adjournment, which would free the lawmakers to return to their home states and campaign for the national ticket.

Democratic National Chairman Paul Kirk joined the call for elected Democrats at all levels to work for the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket.

‘Inspirational ... Educational’

“With 19 days to go in this campaign, mark it well--this is the first day of the rest of the campaign and when these Democratic leaders go back to their districts where they’re known and respected and expose the Bush campaign for what it’s been . . . you’re going to see a horse race and a Democratic victory,” Kirk said.

House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) said Jackson’s message to the Democrats was “inspirational and . . . educational.”

Responding to reporters’ questions, Jackson denied, despite trailing in the polls, that the Dukakis ticket is in trouble.

“The ticket is in a race. It’s not in trouble. The ticket is in a race, and the race will be determined on Nov. 8. We cannot judge our behavior based on pundits and pollsters and educated guesses and hunches. We simply must now go forth with this broad-based team of Democratic leadership and each of us pull our weight,” Jackson said.