of course it makes different. As a presidential candidate, I guess you do need some money from people with deep pocket.
With pro-Israel sentiment very strong in this country, if I were Allen and I had Jewish heritage, I would play into it not distance from it.
I commend Allen for not pandering to any faction in our society like Dems do on a daily basis. I also don't consider him trying to distance himself by making the ham sandwich remark. Remember that there is an R after Allen's name and a large number of Jewish people just do not vote for Repubs.