Bringing it home: Jacksonville GOTV Sunday for Jesse Jackson

The Rev. Jesse Jackson decades back was a transformative Democratic candidate for President. Those days are gone, but he’s still working to GOTV. Sunday’s iteration is in Jacksonville.

Jackson’s visit has a different vibe than his 2016 visit.

While he was hopeful that early voting turnout was juiced, local Democrats on hand were less optimistic, a pessimism validated when Donald Trump took Florida.

2018’s campaign is radically different. Jacksonville Democrats strongly embraced eventual nominee Andrew Gillum ahead of the primary, and they are winning the turnout battle as Souls to the Polls Sunday gets underway.

As of this writing (11:20 a.m.), Jacksonville Democrats have cast 44.9 percent of the 207,797 ballots. Republicans cast 41 percent, despite a number of high-profile national surrogates such as Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Lindsey Graham coming to town to juice turnout.

Jackson has been appearing with U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, who will waltz to a general election victory Tuesday.

He also has two rallies Sunday afternoon.

2 p.m. finds Jackson at the Legends Center. 4:00 p.m finds him at the Eastside Bring It Home Rally at 1096 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.

Rain is in the area, and whether that dampens Souls to the Polls turnout remains to be seen. There is no Corrine Brown helming the Duval Democratic machine.

In that context, it is interesting that Dems are having their best turnout year in many cycles.