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U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama. (Reuters)
Last update - 08:29 26/09/2008
Survey: American Jews favor Obama over McCain
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz U.S. Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Jewish World 

An annual survey published by the American Jewish Committee on Thursday revealed that American Jewish voters favor Senator Barack Obama over Senator John McCain for U.S. president by a margin of 57-30 percent.

The surprising figure to emerge from the survey was the unexpectedly large number of undecided voters, at 13 percent.
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Though the percentage of Jews in the U.S. is merely 2 percent, 4 percent of the votes in the presidential elections are generally cast by American Jews. In certain states, such as Florida, the Jewish vote is considered crucial.

In addition, more than 40 percent of American Jews contribute to presidential campaigns, comprising one fifth of all campaign contributions.

Therefore, it came as no surprise that Obama appealed to the debate committee on Thursday, asking them to rebroadcast his upcoming debate against McCain, scheduled for Friday evening, at a time when observant Jews can watch without violating the laws of the Sabbath. Obama's campaign has invested much time and energy courting the Jewish community, but despite their efforts, 13 percent of American Jewish voters are still undecided.

According to the survey, 56 percent of American Jews define themselves as Democrats, 17 percent as Republicans and 25 percent as Independent.

While Obama leads McCain by 27 percentage points in the survey, his numbers pale in comparison to those received by Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry. Some claim that fraudulent rumors and e-mails suggesting Obama is Muslim have affected his standing. However, Republicans prefer the theory that since the September 11, 2001 attacks, American Jews have begun to rethink which policies are safer for them and for Israel.

In the previous poll conducted in July among American Jewish voters, Obama garnered 62 percent versus McCain's 32 percent. The current poll shows that both candidates have lost American Jewish support, but Obama lost slightly more.

The survey's respondents said the economy was the most important issue they would like to see the candidates address, with 54 percent saying that tops their list. Eleven percent said health care was most important, while 6 percent felt the war in Iraq, and 5 percent felt energy and terrorism were the key issues to be addressed. Three percent said Israel was their main priority.

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      1.   Republicans suggest Israel feels safer with GOP foreign policy 03:34  |  Mark B. 26/09/08
      2.   Lincoln Was Brilliant 05:08  |  Solomon the Wise 26/09/08
      3.   All American Jews Favor McCain 06:55  |  Moses 26/09/08
      4.   If correct, this is very sad 07:37  |  Stacy 26/09/08
      5.   Well I`m Voting For Obama 07:43  |  Yosemite 26/09/08
      6.   Republican Party in Melt Down 08:29  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/09/08
      7.   Well I`m Voing for McCain 08:44  |  Mt. Rainier 26/09/08
      8.   #5 Yosemite. "The world will be here in 20-30 years" 08:57  |  Maureen Ann 26/09/08
      9.   Both are Flawed 09:52  |  Mt. Rushmore 26/09/08
      10.   if voters everywhere had brains the world would be totally differ 11:13  |  v.hardman 26/09/08
      11.   American Jews are making the right choice 11:39  |  MiddleStanian 26/09/08
      12.   hooray for mark of lewiston he has found an honest politician 11:44  |  v.hardman 26/09/08
      13.   One day in US politics 11:56  |  allang 26/09/08
      14.   Given the fact that John Kerry got 76 % of the Jewish vote..... 11:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/09/08
      15.   Mark of Lewiston-re Letterman 12:40  |  examiner 26/09/08
      16.   Yes, But... 13:55  |  MB 26/09/08
      17.   practical politics 14:03  |  x-ray 26/09/08
      18.   Never Again? 14:06  |  Amos 26/09/08
      19.   This is a lie. 14:26  |  An outright lie. 26/09/08
      20.   Mark # 6 and Mr. Hardman # 12 14:53  |  allang 26/09/08
      21.   McCain defence of Israel,Obama defence of Jewish Values 14:54  |  Ronnie Wolman 26/09/08
      22.   57% is historically very low 14:55  |  dyinglikeflies 26/09/08
      23.   Reply to Mark of Lewiston (Post No. 6) 15:58  |  Johnny Weintraub 26/09/08
      24.   What survey? - Nobody asked me 16:11  |  * BEN JABO 26/09/08
      25.   Mark B. Amsterdam #1 in naivete 17:52  |  Afikoman 26/09/08
      26.   American Jews for Obama? 17:59  |  Richard 26/09/08
      27.   Maureen Ann 18:01  |  Yosemite 26/09/08
      28.   wake up people;obama is going to save Israel;just as governmental 18:02  |  glenna 26/09/08
      29.   Palin and the sober Jewish voter 18:09  |  Afikoman 26/09/08
      30.   Obama lacks policy experience and is dangerous 18:21  |  Terry 26/09/08
      31.   Amos #18 18:38  |  O-Dog 26/09/08
      32.   THE TRAIF (UNKOSHER) TICKET - OBAMA 18:57  |  Barry S. Roffman 26/09/08
      33.   Afikoman forgets something 19:11  |  Janice 26/09/08
      34.   #32 - Barry 19:19  |  MichaelF 26/09/08
      35.   Survey by the AJC 19:24  |  Yankee 26/09/08
      36.   #25 Afikoman 20:08  |  Mark b. 26/09/08
      37.   Don`t be so sure.... 20:11  |  Dave from Chicago 26/09/08
      38.   American Jews would vote for Amedinijad 20:32  |  Pete 26/09/08
      39.   23 Johnny Weintraub - I`m in the Mt Rushmore Camp 20:42  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/09/08
      40.   #10 V. Hardman, Iranian voters are just like American voters 20:51  |  Mark B. 26/09/08
      41.   American Jew 22:08  |  Arnold 26/09/08
      42.   american jews aren`t dumb 22:24  |  ross 26/09/08
      43.   Survey American Jews 22:38  |  Eleana 26/09/08
      44.   Reply to Ronnie (21) - One More Try 22:39  |  Tod Zuckerman 26/09/08
      45.   Victor Hardman & Mark B 23:15  |  Persian Kitty 26/09/08
      46.   #24 Nope BJ, nobody did ask you! 23:45  |  ballistic 26/09/08
      47.   #14 Swiss--Kerry was born Jewish 23:47  |  xfiles 26/09/08
      48.   I like Mr.Obama. But I am not an American. 23:47  |  Stephen. 26/09/08
      49.   PALIN, OBAMA, AND JUDAISM 23:52  |  Barry S. Roffman 26/09/08
      50.   #26 Richard, another Israel Firster 23:53  |  xfiles 26/09/08
      51.   Obama will win anyway, so jews might as well support him 00:08  |  Voice of Reason 27/09/08
      52.   Tod Zuckerman: Fear Mongering 00:17  |  Ronnie Wolman 27/09/08
      53.   #30 Terry. Iran presidential elections June 2009. 00:22  |  Maureen Ann 27/09/08
      54.   # 42 barry 00:23  |  Axel 27/09/08
      55.   Reply to Ronnie (47) 00:37  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/09/08
      56.   #45 xfiles what do you do for aliving? 00:40  |  v.hardman 27/09/08
      57.   Tod: We are all relatives 01:19  |  Ronnie Wolman 27/09/08
      58.   To Janice #33 01:31  |  Afikoman 27/09/08
      59.   #54 of GERMANY: AMERICA CARES 01:38  |  Barry S. Roffman 27/09/08
      60.   What fools!!!!! 01:39  |  Salty 27/09/08
      61.   janice "brutal savak" 01:58  |  yaheskel 27/09/08
      62.   read the bell curve by richard herrnstein 02:03  |  nobama 27/09/08
      63.   But Who Do the Voting Machines Favor? 02:29  |  Tex 27/09/08
      64.   Jews, and everyone, for Barack Obama 02:32  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 27/09/08
      65.   Democracy Made Simple 02:32  |  Tex 27/09/08
      66.   Obama 02:33  |  Jasper 27/09/08
      67.   Misleading Headline? 02:53  |  FulghumInk 27/09/08
      68.   Only an ignoramus believes that Barack is a muslim. He is NOT! 03:15  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 27/09/08
      69.   Leeza hyphenated Coleman 03:38  |  Ellis 27/09/08
      70.   If McCain had Obama as VP 03:41  |  Murray of Montreal 27/09/08
      71.   there is no denying that obama had a moslem 04:51  |  nobama 27/09/08
      72.   obama is not a natural ally and supporter of israel 04:53  |  nobama 27/09/08
      73.   Leeza Coleman 05:06  |  Connie 27/09/08
      74.   American Jews are going with McCain Natasha Mozgovaya is wrong 05:47  |  Dish It Out 27/09/08
      75.   Vote OBAMA for Israel 06:13  |  Ari 27/09/08
      76.   Well Think About This 07:40  |  Yosemite 27/09/08
      77.   Who are you crapin? 09:43  |  GHook93 27/09/08
      78.   Leeeza:the Presidency is no place for on the job training 10:18  |  US CITIZEN 27/09/08
      79.   #76 US CITIZEN -if that is so 12:44  |  Sane American 27/09/08
      80.   #76 US CITIZEN -if that is so 14:12  |  Sane American 27/09/08
      81.   Swiss Dino 14:14  |  Shlomi 27/09/08
      82.   #6 Mark of Lewiston....my favorite was a comment from Obama 15:42  |  Lynn 27/09/08
      83.   Lynn #81 -`Great way to treat one`s constituents` piffle 16:36  |  Roo 27/09/08
      84.   # 80 Shlomi 16:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/09/08
      85.   #45 Persian Kitty....keep pushing 18:11  |  Lynn 27/09/08
      86.   #81 lynn..obama getting ahead of himself..on his senatorship 18:20  |  israeli 27/09/08
      87.   #79 sane american...there is a wonderful article 18:22  |  Lynn 27/09/08
      88.   #65 tex glad you are here..never ever think voting for nader. 18:25  |  israeli 27/09/08
      89.   #84 Swiss....they won`t vote for him because 18:43  |  Lynn 27/09/08
      90.   # 88 israeli, you must be kidding.... 19:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/09/08
      91.   # 89 Lynn, please use your brain power..... 19:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/09/08
      92.   actually blondie-89 19:58  |  Roo 27/09/08
      93.   Ha Ha Ha - Right-Wing Zionists Squirm With The Prospect Of Obama 20:00  |  chet 27/09/08
      94.   #78 US CITIZEN..My sympathies... 20:38  |  israeli 27/09/08
      95.   82 Lynn - They Both Irked Me 20:39  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/09/08
      96.   Victor, Allang, Examiner - I Tried 20:45  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/09/08
      97.   Lynn - Based on the Palin Criteria 20:55  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/09/08
      98.   #76 yosemite who speculates and thinks 20:58  |  israeli 27/09/08
      99.   Lynn #87 a lot of wishful thinking going on 21:31  |  Sane American 27/09/08
      100.   Say Lynn. Looks like McCain has flunked 21:37  |  Roo 27/09/08
      101.   Lynn #87 a lot of wishful thinking going on 21:54  |  Sane American 27/09/08
      102.   #78 here I go again US CITIZEN On Presidencies. 22:53  |  Israeli 27/09/08
      103.   Hi to Mark in Lewiston 23:19  |  ghostoflutherblisset 27/09/08
      104.   #60 elis versus hyphenated colman..that is right. 23:34  |  israeli 27/09/08
      105.   Obama Factor 00:29  |  Brod 28/09/08
      106.   how the sub prime problem started 00:31  |  yaheskel 28/09/08
      107.   McCain`s Debate Grovel Factor... 01:56  |  Gray 28/09/08
      108.   Persian Kitty; About those crisp $100- bills.... 02:15  |  Gray 28/09/08
      109.   Obama and McCain 02:22  |  Bobbyg 28/09/08
      110.   Amazing, amazing, AMAZING! 02:31  |  Wally Rhu 28/09/08
      111.   Anti McCain/Palin venom 02:43  |  Brod 28/09/08
      112.   #108 gray forgets that hizbs` ruined labanon.pathetic thinking 03:38  |  israeli 28/09/08
      113.   we`ll see how much american jews favor him if he`s elected and 03:48  |  glenna 28/09/08
      114.   #106 yakeshel how the sub prime problem started.addition toyours. 03:51  |  israeli 28/09/08
      115.   # 105 brod obama factor 04:08  |  israeli 28/09/08
      116.   American Jews 04:44  |  Shmuelshachor 28/09/08
      117.   A lot of angry people in Anchorage: Troopergate. 05:40  |  Maureen Ann 28/09/08
      118.   #79 Sane American 05:41  |  US CITIZEN 28/09/08
      119.   Vote Obama - get Jerry Wright 06:30  |  Dr Eric 28/09/08
      120.   Vote Obama - get huge increase in taxes!!! 06:31  |  Dr Eric 28/09/08
      121.   Vote Obama get Hamas state in WB 06:32  |  Dr Eric 28/09/08
      122.   Vote Obama get total destruction of healthcare 06:36  |  Dr eric 28/09/08
      123.   Some republicans are voting for McCain/Palin 06:46  |  Maria 28/09/08
      124.   I`m not voting for Obama,but I believe he did well 06:51  |  Maria 28/09/08
      125.   This Is Getting Dirty 08:19  |  Yosemite 28/09/08
      126.   how sad 17:17  |  don muntean 28/09/08
      127.   Obama and liberals are closer to Torah 19:15  |  Jerry 28/09/08
      128.   RE: Frivolous Law Suits 19:29  |  Jerry 28/09/08
      129.   Troopergate Scandal 19:36  |  * BEN JABO 28/09/08
      130.   Why the shift 19:47  |  Mary 28/09/08
      131.   Maria #124 21:34  |  Brod 28/09/08
      132.   #123 Maria - Harry Truman wasn`t qualified either 22:00  |  * BEN JABO 28/09/08
      133.   German Jews favored Hitler 22:18  |  * BEN JABO 28/09/08
      134.   #3 Moses - You wandered for 40 years 22:20  |  * BEN JABO 28/09/08
      135.   WAKE UP JEWs 22:53  |  JSS 28/09/08
      136.   mccain 06:41  |  sarah 01/10/08
      137.   American Jews 00:12  |  Anat 06/10/08
      138.   Election 00:14  |  Me 06/10/08
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