Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on July 27, 2012

By PHILIP ELLIOTT Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - On a trip to Israel, Mitt Romney is trying to win over a tiny sliver of a small - but powerful - section of the American electorate. President Barack Obama is doing the same at home.

But while Romney's trip is unlikely to change the broader presidential campaign against Obama, he's hoping to close the gap among Jewish voters.

Yet for all the wooing of American Jews in presidential campaigns, those who say Israel's fate drives their vote make up 6% of a reliably Democratic bloc. The tiny numbers are overlaid with an outsize influence. Campaign donations from Jews or Jewish and pro-Israel groups account for as much as 60% of Democratic money, and groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee can bring strong pressure on candidates.

"This is going to be a close election. We are in a tight, tight race," said Democratic pollster Jim Gerstein. "But this race will not swing on the Jewish vote."

The notion of being an American Jew has changed over the years. Jews have married outside their faith and ethnic enclaves have given way to integrated cities. In the process, Israel has faded as a driving issue in their homes and seems to have faded as a flashpoint in politics.

"They're disconnected from their ancestral roots," Hank Sheinkopf, a New York-based consultant, said of Jewish voters. "People are becoming less observant so they're less tied to Israel, less tied to their faith, less tied to their history."

In turn, Jewish voters look at the election through secular lenses. Although the campaign rhetoric skews toward them when the candidates talk about Israel, assuming that Jews vote based on U.S. policy toward Israel is a losing proposition.

Romney also needs to show his commitment to Israel because the reliably Republican evangelical Christian vote also holds candidates to account on that topic.

"Jewish Americans, like most Americans, have come to assume that mainstream politicians and elected officials will stand strongly with Israel so there's oftentimes no urgency that is reflected in the polling," said Robert Wexler, a former Democratic congressman from Florida whose district was heavily Jewish.

See more here:
Reliably Democratic, Jewish vote gets Romney eye

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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