http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/04/twointhree-jewish-voters-back-obama-119467.html
2 in 3 Jewish voters back Obama
By BYRON TAU |
4/3/12 12:01 PM EDT
President Obamaâs support among Jewish voters remains high according to a new survey â despite heavy criticism of his policy towards the current Israeli government.
A new poll of American Jews, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, finds that 62 percent of Jewish voters prefer Obama over a generic Republican. About a third of American Jews prefer a Republican candidate. Of those that prefer a GOP candidate, 56 percent back Mitt Romney. Among voters who backed Obama in 2008, 86 percent want him reelected â with 7 percent crossing over to support a generic Republican.
Still, a plurality â 35 percent â of Jewish voters rate themselves as âdisappointedâ with the Obama presidency, while 33 percent rate themselves as âsatisfied.â And 46 percent of Obamaâs Jewish supporters report that, while they support him, theyâre ânot excitedâ about casting a ballot for him.
Among Jewish voters, 51 percent point to the economy as the top issue facing the country â with only 4 percent identifying Israel. Israel also did not register as second-tier concern for most American Jews, with only 5 percent identifying it as the second-most important issue.
âThere has been some speculation about possible movements toward the GOP among Jewish voters, but the current state of the race suggests that this yearâs Jewish vote will resemble past elections,â said Daniel Cox, PRRI research director said in a statement. âThe likely Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, is unpopular among most Jewish voters, and the GOPâs signature campaign proposalârepealing the recent health care lawâis opposed by nearly six-in-ten American Jews.â
Itâs another sign that despite the overheated rhetoric about Obamaâs Israel policy and his uneasy relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs government, there are unlikely to be large scale defections of Jewish voters from his coalition in November.
2 in 3 Jewish voters back Obama
By BYRON TAU |
4/3/12 12:01 PM EDT
President Obamaâs support among Jewish voters remains high according to a new survey â despite heavy criticism of his policy towards the current Israeli government.
A new poll of American Jews, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, finds that 62 percent of Jewish voters prefer Obama over a generic Republican. About a third of American Jews prefer a Republican candidate. Of those that prefer a GOP candidate, 56 percent back Mitt Romney. Among voters who backed Obama in 2008, 86 percent want him reelected â with 7 percent crossing over to support a generic Republican.
Still, a plurality â 35 percent â of Jewish voters rate themselves as âdisappointedâ with the Obama presidency, while 33 percent rate themselves as âsatisfied.â And 46 percent of Obamaâs Jewish supporters report that, while they support him, theyâre ânot excitedâ about casting a ballot for him.
Among Jewish voters, 51 percent point to the economy as the top issue facing the country â with only 4 percent identifying Israel. Israel also did not register as second-tier concern for most American Jews, with only 5 percent identifying it as the second-most important issue.
âThere has been some speculation about possible movements toward the GOP among Jewish voters, but the current state of the race suggests that this yearâs Jewish vote will resemble past elections,â said Daniel Cox, PRRI research director said in a statement. âThe likely Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, is unpopular among most Jewish voters, and the GOPâs signature campaign proposalârepealing the recent health care lawâis opposed by nearly six-in-ten American Jews.â
Itâs another sign that despite the overheated rhetoric about Obamaâs Israel policy and his uneasy relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs government, there are unlikely to be large scale defections of Jewish voters from his coalition in November.
.