"Early on, no one took Jesse seriously," says George Webber, a pastor in East Harlem since 1948. Webber notes that the newspaper originally was set against a Jackson candidacy, and only "belatedly realized that Jesse had strong support and could raise the hopes of the people."

"But the real problem have is apathy," says Webber. "Is there any reason for these people to believe the government can do something for them? Look at the war on poverty: big promises dashed to the ground. This is psychic murder we are engaging in."

Question marks also surround Jackson's purported Hispanic support. Most of the prominent Hispanic politicians in the area support Mondale, Rep. Robert Garcia (D.N.Y.), for instance, endorsed Mondale last year, Hispanics, along with Jowish voten, are thought by campaign strategists on all sides to make up Mondale's most solid blocs of support.

"Logically, you'd think that Hispanics would go right along with the Blacks in the voting booth," Webber says. "But they won't because they're afraid of the racism that has affected Blacks. They're trying to distance themselves from that."

The march waiting for Jackson on 101st Street seems to be the campaign's answer to these divisions. Aides note that Jackson, who that morning had visited the Lesbian and Day Communities Service Counter in Greenwich village and than led a march through Chinatown, was actively trying to about new constituencies, Jackson has been challenged recently with questions that his rainbow coalition is actually monochromatically Black.

The march though, includes a profusion of groups marked by ethnic and political diversity.

Most of the thousands that crowd the sidewalks are Black and young and many say they would not have come out for another candidate.

"I'm just have to see Jesse," says Darryl Richards of East Harlem. "I think if Gary Hart or Walter Mandrel care cane people would boo."

And Richards and other supporters are not disappointed. Jackson eventually joins the march and then at the end delivers a stump speech.

"I am some body," Jackson intones, and he has the crowd of more than 6000 chanting.

Jackson says he is the "real alternative. There are three candidates in this race but only tow points of view. I am the only one calling for a cut in the defense budget. We need more than a new President. We head a new direction."

Jackson continues to attack Hart and Mondale, saying that through they are not "men who stand in school house doors and prevent Blacks from going to school, they did not march in the South. They were not there."

"I will remain in this campaign," he says, "I will remain the conscience of the Democratic party."

Jackson builds to the climax of his speech, speaking more quickly and forcefully.

"Martin Luther King Jr. was crucified on April 4, 1968 and on April 3, 1984 we will roll the stone away and resurrect him," he shouts. The crowd erupts in its biggest wave of applause