Why was Jesse Jackson seen as nothing but the "black candidate"

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

In the early 2008 primaries, I saw many talking head pundits compare Obama to Jesse Jackson, saying that while JJ was simply the "black candidate" Obama was a candidate that "simply happened to be black". This makes no sense to me. Jackson did not run on black identity politics, he wanted to build a "Rainbow coalition". While Obama campaigned on vague platitudes like hope and change, Jesse Jackson ran the most substantive campaigns in Democratic primaries until Bernie came along. His 1988 campaign focused specifically on the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Jesse Jackson had said things that were perceived as anti-semitic.

That's being kind.  Jesse Jackson referred to New York City as "H----town", while actively receiving the support of Louis Farrakhan.  This was in his 1984 campaign.

What qualifications did Jackson have that suggested he was up to the office of the Presidency?  I find that one hard to come up with.  I would ask people here what qualifications for the Presidency did Jesse Jackson had that Pat Robertson did not have?  They both ran in 1988; why does Robertson (who is, indeed a jerk) get flamed while Jackson gets a pass?

Because Pat Robertson is an evil charlatan and Jesse Jackson was standing up for workers.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

In the 1980's racism and racial tensions were worse. Crime was much higher, and crime was always tied to blacks. A lot of white suburbanites in the 1980's were afraid of blacks breaking into their homes at night and robbing them. It was only 20 years before the 1980's that blacks were being lynched and denied the right to vote. Even a 'white friendly' non threatening black candidate like Obama would have lost in the 80's. It wasn't until  crime declined in the 1990's for the average white person to put crime and the fear of blacks on the back burner.

Than why did Douglas Wilder win in suburban VA in 1989?