Although a formidable campaigner, Jackson alone will not be enough to bring Black votes into the Dukakis column. Jackson, Blacks are accutely aware, is not the nominee. He will not be able to change their situations. He will not be able to push though civil rights legislation or new housing acts.

DUKAKIS needs to stop believing others will do for him what he needs to do. Dukakis needs to go to Black communities and tell Blacks what he will do to help them, the most obvious example of people who have not been reached by the Reagan revolution.

He showed he was a capable speaker at the Democratic Convention. He needs to bring his speaking skills to people most wanting to heed what he has to say.

If Dukakis maintains his vague approach and still wins--not inconceivable, considering Bush's propensity for shooting himself in the behind--he may well suffer from the same symptoms Carter faced as president.

NOT having stirred people as a campaigner, Carter never won their loyalty. When things did not go right for him as president, people did not back him up, did not say, "I will stand by Carter because of the risk he took in the campaign by saying what he would do for me."

Dukakis is hoping he can win because he is better than Bush: more competent and untainted by the last eight years. But Dukakis has to show what he will do, not what he is. He has to take a chance, bringing the party somewhere--to Black communities, for instance--not plopping it onto the middle of a fence and hoping people will come to it.