As President Bush prepared to address the convention of the National Urban League in Detroit today, the Reverend Jesse Jackson has stepped up to the plate, calling for African-Americans to go on a “low-carb” diet. After referring to the recent firing of Whoopi Goldberg as spokesperson for Slim-Fast, Jackson chanted, “No Cheney, no Ashcroft, no Bush,” and vowed to work to rectify the “disenfranchisement of Black voters” that occurred in Florida in the 2000 election. Jackson will also attend next week’s Democratic National Convention in Boston along with controversial filmmaker Michael Moore.

Appearing live on Friday morning's “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” Jackson discussed election politics with radio commentator Tavis Smiley. The irony of Bush’s appearance before this convention, which is attended primarily by African-Americans, was not lost. Speaking about Bush’s turning down an invitation to speak at the NAACP convention earlier this month, Smiley pointed out that most members of the Urban League are also members of the NAACP. Bush has never addressed this group, becoming the first president since Herbert Hoover to snub the organization.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate, John Kerry was well received as he addressed the group on Thursday. Addressing the issue of high unemployment among blacks, he told the group that he believes we should spend money to keep young people away from gangs and crime. 'We have an obligation to stop being a country that's content to spend $50,000 a year to house young people in prison for the rest of their life, rather than spend $10,000 a year to give them Head Start, Early Start, Smart Start - early childhood education,' he told them.

While Kerry is leading Bush 8-1, according to a BET/CBS News poll of black voters, only 27 percent claim to be “enthusiastic” about him, leaving 58 percent simply “satisfied.” The election, then, could be decided by the strength of voter turnout, especially in key states where black voters could well make the difference in which candidate becomes the victor.