Jews will never vote for Bush. They are terrified of Christians, and are expecting to be herded into concentration camps by Ashcroft at any moment.
Prepare to be surprised, Pete98.
Jews voted for Ronald Reagan in 1984 in large numbers and for George H.W. Bush in 1988 in even larger numbers.
President Bush 41, shall we say, mishandled his Jewish support and as a result Jewish voters abandoned the Republican Party en masse. However, there is precedent for a Jewish vote of more than 30% for the Republican Presidential candidate twice in the last 20 years.
I think this will be the third, and boldly predict that Jewish support will fall between 35 and 40 percent.
By the way, the Presbyterians (PCUSA) becoming the first mainstream Christian church to vote for divestment from US companies doing business with Israel should be played up among liberal Jews. Maybe they'll take a fresh look at their sincere evangelical supporters instead of their fair-weather kumbaya friends.
Tkathy... you're probably right with respect some more traditional and older Liberal Jews... even most.
But Younger jews are generally more Conservative, and will vote for bush.
While Jews voted 80-20 Against Bush in the last election... Under 30 year old Jews, voted 60-40 FOR BUSH.
(a previous discussion here)
That demographic may be extended (to under 35) in this year.
Kerry will probably win the overall Jewish vote .. but Bush will get more money and more votes in some swing states from Jews this year.
The GOP hoping to approach the Reagan Jewish vote of app 40%
Because of some misconceptions in the past, it is possible that some Jews are afraid of Christians, but most Christians respect Jews (and sometimes, even love Jews) because the Bible, which the Christians read and respect (and even love), is a book that talks so much about the people of Israel and God's blessings and promises for them. After all, all the prophets, Jesus and all the first christian disciples were Jews! I believe that sincere Christians are the best friends of the Jews. This is why it is so easy for many Republicans to be Pro-Israel: Christians and Jews share the same Judeo-Christian values.