Jewish Community News

News: September 2008

How do Jews stand on Obama?

American Jews are less supportive of Barack Obama than previous Democratic nominees, according to a poll conducted in mid July by the Washington-based advocacy organization J Street. 
    The lack of support comes despite overwhelming unhappiness with the Bush administration.
       The survey found that only 58 percent of American Jews said they would definitely vote for Obama. Another 4 percent said they were leaning toward the presumptive Democratic nominee.
      In contrast, Al Gore and Bill Clinton both drew approximately 80 percent of the Jewish vote in their respective runs for the presidency, while John Kerry garnered about 76 percent in 2004.
   Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they would vote for Sen. John McCain, with 3 percent saying they were leaning toward the presumptive GOP nominee. That would represent a higher showing among Jews than the 24 percent President George W. Bush drew in 2004.
      The poll, conducted by Gerstein/Agne Strategic Communications, was based on interviews with 800 respondents. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.
      Even as American Jews appear to be displaying some reservations about Obama, they are highly critical of the current White House. According to the poll, 90 percent of American Jews believe the country is on the wrong track.