Posted on 10/25/2004, 5:43:05 AM by Pikamax
Support for Israel is winning Bush Jewish votes
BY E.A. TORRIERO
Chicago Tribune
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - (KRT) - Beginning with their votes for Harry Truman in 1948, Judith and Milton Weinberg have never cast their ballots for a Republican presidential candidate.
But this year, the traditional Jewish Democrats will vote for President Bush. Democratic challenger John Kerry, some say, isn't strong enough in support of Israel and has too many political allies who are not friends of the Jewish state.
"Some people in my neighborhood treat me like I am a pariah," said Judith Weinberg, 77, who lives here in one of the highest concentrations of Jewish retirees in the nation. "But I don't care. I know that Bush is better for the Jewish people."
Weinberg is not alone. As Election Day nears, Democrats long banking on the liberal Jewish bloc are frantically trying to woo back defectors who are convinced that Bush is better for Jewish interests.
In swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and here in Florida - where the election hinges on razor-thin margins - a slight shift among Jewish voters could tilt the outcome.
The Republicans may be eroding the traditional 80 percent backing nationally of Democratic presidential candidates, Democratic leaders here say.
"If they get 40 percent, it would devastating," Charles Glick, a Kerry aide leading the Jewish vote efforts here told a crowd of supporters recently. "If they get 30 percent they could win the election. We need to keep them under 20 percent."
Nationally, the Jewish vote is small but influential, representing about 3 percent to 4 percent of the electorate and concentrated in a handful of states.
In 2000, Jews turned out 4-to-1 for Al Gore and his Jewish running mate, Joe Lieberman. Bush garnered about 19 percent of the Jewish vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Will miracles never cease?
It's about effin time!
Ok so according to various articles I have seen, Bush is gaining this year among:
1. Jewish voters
2. African American voters
3. Women voters
But losing votes among:
4. Muslim voters
If this is true, how is this race as tight as it sometime seems to be in the horserace polls or even the state by state polls? I am just not sure what to believe?
I don't see how!
:-)
Kerry will get 85% of the Jewish vote. THis article is a joke. The left will steal this election.
I considered adding in Bush gaining among Hispanic voters, but I am not sure about that. The articles I have seen seem to say he is holding his own. Another group I should have added that Bush maybe has lost support among is homosexuals or at least the logcabin Republicans?
So either there has been an upsurge in Muslims, homosexuals and Muslim homosexuals nationally that I have missed here in Mobile or something is odd in these numbers?
OK, I was just down visiting my parents in Boca Raton (the buckle of the South Florida "Bagel Belt"). Although most of my parents neighbors are supporting Kerry, I was shocked that there weren't that many Kerry signs out along the roads and in the neighborhoods. By contrast, in 2000 I saw TONS of Gore signs all over the place.
Well maybe if the candidate were named "John Kohn" rather than "John Kerry", there would be more signs for the DemocRAT candidate.
Actually, Bush has lost votes among the 18-35 contingent and white men.
The left will steal this election.
True, but you are allowing pessimism to get in the way of the facts on the ground.
Thanks for the ping, as always.
Are there any good polls showing a real shift in the Jewish vote toward President Bush?
Oh, no...not the amen corner! This isn't going to sit well with the angry-cons.
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