Bush Campaign Courts Jewish Voters and Donors with Emphasis on Israel Support

Strategic Insights -

The Bush campaign, seeking to expand the Republican base, is aggressively courting Jewish voters and donors by emphasizing the president's strong support for Israel, a key issue for many in the Jewish community. Strategists in both parties and analysts at Jewish organizations agree that the White House has made significant efforts to reach out to Jewish contributors, long a backbone of the Democratic Party's financial support. This move is expected to pay dividends, particularly in closely contested states with high concentrations of Jewish voters.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bush campaign has made a concerted effort to court Jewish contributors, with a focus on their strong support for Israel, a key issue for many in the Jewish community.
  • Strategists in both parties and analysts at Jewish organizations agree that the White House has made significant efforts to reach out to Jewish voters and donors.
  • Vice President Dick Cheney spoke to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County in Florida, emphasizing the administration's support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel.
  • Senator John Kerry is being forced to shore up his support among Jewish voters after initially sending mixed signals on issues related to Israel.
  • Sander Gerber, a 37-year-old money manager in New York, has raised over $100,000 for the Bush campaign from Jewish donors who have edged away from their identification with the Democrats to reward the president's backing of Israel.
  • Jewish voters in the United States are not monolithic in their views on Israel, and some Democrats say that Mr. Bush generates little support among Jewish voters on subjects other than Israel.
  • Republicans' efforts to reach Jewish voters and donors are seen as a way to "mess with the Democrats" and gain an advantage, according to Democratic media strategist Steve Rabinowitz.
  • Mr. Kerry's initial criticisms of Israel's separation barrier and his suggestion to appoint Jimmy Carter as a special envoy to the Middle East have-driven some Jewish organizations to support the president.
  • Democrats acknowledge that Senator John Kerry is being forced to shore up his support among Jewish voters, with executive director of the nonpartisan American Jewish Committee, David A. Harris, stating that "the Jewish vote is very much in play this year."

Statistics:

  • Roughly 20 percent of the Jewish vote went to Mr. Bush in 2000 (according to the Bush campaign strategists).
  • The Bush campaign has raised at least $4 million from Jewish contributors who had not previously supported Mr. Bush financially (according to an individual involved in the effort).
  • Over $100,000 has been raised by Sander Gerber for the Bush campaign from Jewish donors (as mentioned by the article).
  • John Kerry's initial statements on Israel and the separation barrier drove some Jewish organizations to support the president (as stated by the article).
  • The Bush campaign is expected to attract substantially more of the Jewish vote than the nearly 20 percent he received in 2000 (according to Matthew Dowd, the Bush campaign's chief strategist).

Sources:

  • David A. Harris, executive director of the nonpartisan American Jewish Committee
  • Sander Gerber, money manager in New York
  • Steve Rabinowitz, Democratic media strategist
  • Matthew Dowd, Bush campaign's chief strategist
  • Mr. Gerber (multiple mentions)
  • White House release
  • Mr. Zeidman, investor from Houston
  • Sheldon B. Kamins, developer from Maryland
  • Michael Lebovitz, real estate executive from Tennessee
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