Bush-Cheney Eyeing Jewish Voters in Battleground States

NewsMax ^ | 3/14/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Jewish voters could hold the key to victory in November for President Bush, with Republicans hoping the president's strong conduct of the war on terrorism will appeal to the traditionally Democratic constituency in states like Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Arizona.

"We understand they have been inclined to support Democrats," Bush-Cheney campaign chief Marc Racicot told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "But we feel the president's policies and his values in regard to the Middle East lead to the possibility to be much more successful in the Jewish community."

Pollster John Zogby agreed, telling the JTA, "Anything that has the power to move a few hundred or a few thousand voters one way or another in any state can cause a seismic shift."

"If, instead of 72 percent of the Jewish vote, [Sen. John] Kerry were to get 69 percent, it's not many votes, but it could have an impact in Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona." Zogby said.

Four years ago, Bush-Cheney won just 19 percent of the Jewish vote.

This time around, however, Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matt Brooks says national security would trump social and domestic considerations for many Jews.

Gregory Mangia contributed to this report.

[HostileTerritory]

Jewish voters in Missouri? That's a pretty damn narrow constituency on which to hang an election.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Jewish voters in Missouri? That's a pretty damn narrow constituency on which to hang an election.

The issues of taxes and school choice will bring at least 5% more blacks into the fold than last time.

[FRgal4u]

PA is the key here. If Bush can win PA, hold OH and FL, it is his race to lose.

[JerseyHighlander]

Limbacher and Mangia, interviewing an Arab American pollster and the ex-governor of Montana to find insights into the Jewish swing vote. Come on, I couldn't have been the only one who got a chuckle from this.

[TomEwall]

If Bush won PA, he would win the election going away.

[republicanwizard]

Exactly. My beloved Pennsylvania is the critical battleground.

[republicanwizard]

Not to mention that if he carries Pennsylvania, the chances that a Democrat wins the popular vote are nil.

[Think free or die]

"PA is the key here. If Bush can win PA, hold OH and FL, it is his race to lose"

If PA is critical, then they need to be addressing the issue of fraud with a lot more vigor. A lot of conservative votes get cancelled out by fraud within Philadelphia and other urban centers.