THE JEWISH NEWS

THIS ISSUE 60(

SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY

NOVEMBER 11, 1988/ 2 KISLEV 5749

Jewish Neighborhoods Split the Vote

The northwest suburbs backed George Bush, while southeast Oakland — including
Southfield, Oak Park and Huntington Woods — went to Michael Dukakis

KIMBERLY LIFTON and
ELIZABETH KAPLAN

Staff Writers

Oak Park, Huntington Woods and
Southfield followed national Jewish
voting patterns in supporting
Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis
in the race for the 1988 presidency.
National polls indicate that
Dukakis secured about 70 percent of
the Jewish vote across the country.
Political analysts say results from
previous elections show that Jews na-
tionally have favored Democrats by a
65-35 percent margin.
In this election, however, the
margin was surprising. Analysts ex-
pected the Rev. Jesse Jackson factor
to bring more Jewish support for
President-elect George Bush. A more
even split between the two candidates
was projected.
The complete Jewish vote in
Michigan has yet to be analyzed
because results must be calculated
precinct by precint in several nor-
thwest suburbs where many Jews
reside.
The Bush camp overwhelmingly
defeated Dukakis in these suburbs. In
Farmington Hills, with 28 precincts
reporting, Bush secured a 68-32 per-
cent victory. Bloomfied Hills voted
78-22 percent for Bush, West Bloom-

Helene Levy

Michael Traison
Bernice Berlin
Like the majority of American Jews, they backed Dukakis.

field voted 65-35 percent for Bush and
76 percent of the voters in Bloomfield
Township cast ballots for Bush.
The Jewish Campaign Committee
of Bush-Quayle and the American
Jewish Congress are planning to
analyze the Jewish vote.
In city-wide totals, Dukakis swept
Oak Park by a 70-30 percent margin
over Bush. The governor also defeated
Bush in Southfield with 60-40 percent
of the votes, and he won in Hun-
tington Woods by 57-43 percent.
Oak Park Mayor Charolotte
Rothstein noted the historic
Democratic trend in her city. She said
several precincts showed strong sup-
port for the Bush-Quayle ticket, but

couldn't project whether this indicates
that Jewish support has shifted from
Democratic to Republican.
"Results from Oak Park illustrate
the continuity of this Jewish voting
pattern despite the battle between the
two candidates over Jewish
allegience," said David Gad-Harf, ex-
ecutive director for the Jewish Com-
munity Council.
Outside the polls on Tuesday,
Dukakis supporters in Oak Park and
West Bloomfield said Jackson did not
influence their votes. Yet several Jews
who voted for Bush, who refused to
give their names, said they were
afraid of Jackson.
"Being a liberal is a great

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New leaders Paul D. Borman and
David Gad-Harf aim to continue
Jewish Community Council
programs . . . and promote Israel

Page 24

American Jewish tradition," said Ber-
nice Berlin of Bloomfield Hills. "I was
concerned about Jesse Jackson. It
gave me cause to pause and think, but
not for long." She voted for Dukakis.
Voters also said they considered
such issues as the candidates' posi-
tions on raising taxes, abortion and a
moment of silence in public schools.
Bush has promised not to raise
taxes, while Dukakis said he would do
so only as a last resort. Bush opposes
abortion and supports a moment of
silence in public schools; Dukakis
supports Medicaid funding of abor-
tions and opposes the moment of
silence.
Robert Goldberg of Oak Park said
that Jackson's presence in a Dukakis
administration would concern him,
but that he supported the Dukakis-
Bentsen ticket because it is stronger
on Jewish and domestic issues.
"The Democractic Party
represents a better cross stream of the
American public," he said. "They've
got stronger positions on the deficit
and foreign matters."
Linda Kayes of Huntington Woods
said she supported Dukakis because
he is stronger on Jewish issues,
especially Israel.
She also expressed concern over

Continued on Page 21