CHICAGO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Jesse Jackson, a 68-year-old political novice from the south suburbs, unexpectedly pulled out of the March 19 Democratic primary Friday, leaving Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. as the sole Jackson on the ballot.
The other Jackson said through his lawyer that his wife and grandson had recently died and he felt he had made his point by running for Congress.
"These recent losses have impaired my ability to wage the kind of campaign necessary to win the 2nd Congressional District," the retired Robbins, Ill., truck driver said in a written statement delivered to an elections board hearing officer at the James Thompson Center.
But his surprise resignation from the race will not end the controversy.
Rep. Jackson, 36, son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., has called the second Jackson's candidacy a dirty trick orchestrated by his political enemies and plans to press a lawsuit against Dolton, Ill., Mayor Bill Shaw, a state senator, and his brother, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Bob Shaw, who he contends are behind a criminal scheme to create confusion for voters.
The Shaw brothers, fraternal twins, deny any involvement.
The state Board of Elections on Monday ordered more than 4,000 signatures checked to determine whether the other Jackson could remain on the March 19 primary ballot. An independent hearing officer was to have heard more evidence Friday.
The Mississippi-born political newcomer earlier said he used "Lee" as a middle name but was not known as "Jesse L. Jackson" the name he wanted printed on the primary ballot. Congressman Jackson's lawyer said nominating petitions circulated by homeless men allegedly duped voters who thought they were signing petitions for the incumbent.
