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Oct

30

The fight over Ohio’s Jewish voters


It’s no news old news to me, but JTA covers the highlights well in their article, “In heavily contested Ohio,
a scramble to get out Jewish vote.” There’s something for everyone.

McCain:

Pro-McCain groups twice have brought in national Jewish standard-bearers for McCain, including talkback radio stars Dennis Prager and Michael Medved, for events aimed mostly at the converted.

Obama:

Earlier this month, after a Democratic Party activist reported that false rumors about Obama were gaining traction at a home for the elderly, Matt Ratner, the scion of a local building family and the chief Jewish liaison for the campaign, organized a young people’s blitz of the institution.It was a kind of a “mini-schlep” before Florida had its “Great Schlep,” in which grandchildren visited Florida to convince their elderly kin to back Obama. The Ohio participants say their effort seemed to have worked.

McCain:

The Republican Jewish Coalition bused in dozens of volunteers from Chicago to distribute John McCain leaflets in neighborhoods, particularly the Orthodox enclave in Beachwood, a natural redoubt for the Arizona senator.

Obama:

Horwitz was optimistic; any lingering bitterness among Jewish Democrats who had backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the primaries had dissipated. The McCain campaign had hoped to attract those votes, particularly with the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

The sense even among Republicans was that Obama would sweep Jewish Cleveland.

“A lot of Jewish support” for Democrats ”is traditional and historic,” said Marc Freimuch, a local RJC member and an attorney.  “And a lot of it is reaction to the Bush administration and the war in Iraq and the economic disaster we find ourselves in.”

The conversations I’ve had with the Jewish folks I know or meet lead me to believe that when all is said and done, Obama will win the Jewish vote in Ohio, though I do believe, like many others and like many others about the general election, that it will be close.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:54 pm October 30th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, Elections, Israel, Jewish, John McCain, Ohio, Politics, Religion, Voting, WH2008 

Comments

7 Responses to “The fight over Ohio’s Jewish voters”

  1. 1 Mark McNally on October 30th, 2008 1:19 pm

    Jill, I agree with you that Obama will win the Jewish Ohio vote and that it will be close.

    Isn’t that a sign of weakness? Shouldn’t the Democrat win that demographic by atleast 20 points normally. Perhaps more in an bad GOP year?

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on October 30th, 2008 1:21 pm

    Mark, what makes you think this:

    “Isn’t that a sign of weakness? Shouldn’t the Democrat win that demographic by atleast 20 points normally. Perhaps more in an bad GOP year?”

  3. 3 The Reverend on October 30th, 2008 3:15 pm

    I don’t have the link at my fingertips….but the Jewish polling I’ve seen, at least nationally, is virtually the same as Kerry’s was in 04.

    The GOP, as it tries with all groups of Americans, is using their standard scare tactics….witness Joe the Dumber Plumber’s, “Obama means death to Israel” stupidity.

    Unity over division. Jewish voters will agree.

  4. 4 Mark McNally on October 30th, 2008 4:34 pm

    You wrote “Mark, what makes you think this:”

    My response: Past election results.

  5. 5 Jill Miller Zimon on October 30th, 2008 4:39 pm

    Mark – come on – I’m old – you are making this way to hard! lol

    You wrote

    “Isn’t that a sign of weakness?

    AND

    Shouldn’t the Democrat win that demographic by atleast 20 points normally. Perhaps more in an bad GOP year?”

    Those aren’t the same thing or necessarily connected at all – wow.

    Also – what the “shouldn’t” thing?

    How about how Catholics are voting, or Hispanics for that matter?

    Why are you making so much work for me! :)

  6. 6 captain cucamonga on October 30th, 2008 6:39 pm

    That 5 million dollars for Barrack Obama’s 30 minute commercial is corrupt money from companies on wall street that have purposely ruined American citizens lives by creating financial turmoil. This is all by design to sway votes toward Obama. Wake up people, the wall street meltdown just so happened right before this election? Regardless our votes don’t count. The U.S. election is as corrupt as many third world countries.

  7. 7 captain cucamonga on October 30th, 2008 6:39 pm

    I can’t believe American citizens will not use their heads to put two and two together. Where is Barrack Obama getting all of this money for advertisements. Don’t be afraid people, the wall street melt down is a magic trick to put us in fear to vote for Barrack Obama. Wall Street is greasing Bill Clinton’s palm also for his money shot Endorsement of B.O.. The wall street meltdown happened in a timely manner before the election. Wall Street has robbed American citizens purposely to sway an election. B.O. is a gentle lamb in wolves clothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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