Seven ways Israel could haunt the 2008 campaign
By Bradley Burston
10 September 2008
Something big has happened to the Israel issue in the 2008 presidential race. It has disappeared. John McCain and Sarah Palin, who in key states like Florida may have the most to gain from an unabashedly pro-Israel stance, made no mention of the Jewish state in their centerpiece acceptance speeches last week. Neither did Joe Biden, who was to have shored Barack Obama's pro-Israel credentials with undecided Jewish voters. Of the four, only Obama mentioned Israel in his acceptance address - only once, and, significantly, the focus of the reference was on Tehran. "You don't protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington." Does this mean that the U.S. Jewish vote no longer counts? Not at all. There are still at least seven key states, rich in electoral votes, in which Jewish voters could put McCain or Obama over the top. While the Jewish vote has not diminished in potential importance, research suggests that Israel figures little in the bedrock concerns of Jewish voters. In a wide-ranging poll conducted late last year, the American Jewish Committee asked a representative cross-section of U.S. Jews to choose the campaign issue most important to them. A total of 23 percent of the respondents chose the economy and jobs. Health care was second, with 19 percent. Another 16 percent said the war in Iraq was the most important issue, with 14 percent choosing terrorism and national security.
By Bradley Burston
10 September 2008
Something big has happened to the Israel issue in the 2008 presidential race. It has disappeared. John McCain and Sarah Palin, who in key states like Florida may have the most to gain from an unabashedly pro-Israel stance, made no mention of the Jewish state in their centerpiece acceptance speeches last week. Neither did Joe Biden, who was to have shored Barack Obama's pro-Israel credentials with undecided Jewish voters. Of the four, only Obama mentioned Israel in his acceptance address - only once, and, significantly, the focus of the reference was on Tehran. "You don't protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington." Does this mean that the U.S. Jewish vote no longer counts? Not at all. There are still at least seven key states, rich in electoral votes, in which Jewish voters could put McCain or Obama over the top. While the Jewish vote has not diminished in potential importance, research suggests that Israel figures little in the bedrock concerns of Jewish voters. In a wide-ranging poll conducted late last year, the American Jewish Committee asked a representative cross-section of U.S. Jews to choose the campaign issue most important to them. A total of 23 percent of the respondents chose the economy and jobs. Health care was second, with 19 percent. Another 16 percent said the war in Iraq was the most important issue, with 14 percent choosing terrorism and national security.
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