A little black girl...

[bigtimedude]

Partly because Jesse Jackson was and is a complete buffoon. Partly because of the time and political climate when he ran. Mostly though Obabma is a non threatening , intelligent and articulate half black man that can make guilty white liberals comfortable and feel good about voting for.

 

[Aardvark154]

Bigtimedude, I believe you hit the nail on the head. The President is (I believe correctly) perceived as being intelligent and having a pleasant personality, and certainly he is articulate. Jesse Jackson on the other hand it perceived as being perpetually angry, and determined to "throw the baby out with the bathwater."