[Feline_AIDS]

Suppose Israel attacks before the election. The US doesn’t support them.

Does that October surprise help Zero or Romney?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Hurts.

All the people who would be gratified by a hands off policy towards Iran will vote for Obama anyway. If it looks like Obama is winning, Israel will attack to try to influence the election. If Obama is losing, they will wait for Romney. With U.S. assistance dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons will be orders of magnitude easier.

We are not going to get involved in nation building or try to make friends in Iran. We will grind their economic and military assets into dust and let them pick up the pieces, unlike in Iraq and Afghanistan. Big mistake in the former two countries.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Does that October surprise help Zero or Romney?

I think a presidential election with an incumbent will always be decided by the economy, regardless of what happens internationally - if an Israeli attack on Iran happens early enough to affect prices at the pump, Obama will most definitely not be helped. Otherwise, international affairs simply won't matter in comparison to how the voter's wallet or purse feels in the weeks leading up to the election.

[HapaxLegamenon]

Suppose Israel attacks before the election. The US doesn’t support them. Does that October surprise help Zero or Romney?

Certainly doesn't help him maintain 80% of the Jewish vote.

[Former Proud Canadian]

I think Israel has to attack before the election and who it helps depends on several factors.

Waiting until after the election does them no good. If Obama wins, they are cooked and should have gone in beforehand. If Romney wins, Obama will still be in power until January, perhaps too long to wait.

If Israel wages a "soft", "targeted" war using cyber weapons, non nuclear EMPs, commando raids, and cruise missle attacks they might be able to get away with it. Obama will be in trouble with the Jewish vote. If it goes badly for Israel and Obama does nothing, I don't believe that America wants to see Israel destroyed.

[HapaxLegamenon]

Speaking of Zero, I wish someone would make a parody of My Hero Zero