Jews for Bush

One of the key constituencies this year, especially in swing states, is Jews. Bush has actively gone after these votes, while Kerry seems to be taking them for granted. Historically, Jews have voted for Democrats and even though the Democratic Party has this year aligned itself with the anti-Semitic loony left, it looks like the majority will still vote for them. But as Joel Mowbray points out Bush doesn't need to get the majority of the Jewish vote to help swing key states.

Voting Democrat has always been something a Jew just does. But not anymore.

None of this is to say that Bush will clear 50% of the Jewish vote. The high water mark for Republicans in recent times was set by Ronald Reagan, garnering almost 40%. But given that Bush captured less than 20% of the Jewish vote four years ago (and his father managed just 11% in 1992), simply scoring 35% would mark a huge improvement. Especially in Florida, which has roughly 500,000 Jews.

In a state he won by 537 votes, Bush obviously doesn’t need to win a majority of Jewish votes to change the electoral calculus substantially.

The New Republic had an article a few days ago about the importance of the Orthodox Jewish community in this election.

Bush has undoubtedly been one of the friendliest Presidents towards Israel ever. And given Kerry's foreign policy advisers, it is almost certain that his policy towards Israel will mean pressure on Israel, and Arafat once again sleeping in the White House.