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Both vice presidential candidates were
f vice presidential nominees de-
termined presidential outcomes, stalwarts in the congressional pro-Israel
Jewish voters would face the coalition, although most observers agree
happiest of quandaries at the Mr. Kemp played a more critical role.
Support for Israel came easily to Mr.
polls on Nov. 5.
And that decision might be Kemp, in part because the pro-Israel lob-
only a tantalizing tuneup of by's new emphasis on Israel's role as a bul-
what's in store for us in The Big wark in the American effort to contain the
Race between them four years from now. Soviet Union was consistent with his hard-
This year's lineup — former congress- line strategic view, according to Morris
man and HUD Secretary Jack Kemp for Amitay, a Washington lobbyist and pro-Is-
the Republicans, Vice President Al Gore rael political fund-raiser. As executive di-
seeking a second term for the Democrats rector of the American Israel Public Affairs
— is a no-lose proposition for Jewish vot- Committee (AIPAC) in the mid-1970s, Mr.
ers. Amitay played a major role in wooing Mr.
In 1992, Mr. Gore's nomination helped Kemp to Israel's cause.
"Support for Israel fit in with his bedrock
reassure Jewish Democrats who were un-
easy about their party's nominee — an un- beliefs about who the good guys and the
known governor from Arkansas who lacked bad guys were in the world," he said. "At
experience in foreign affairs or security is- the same time, it was consistent with his
sues. strong religious views, although he's not
President Clinton's administration someone who wears his religion on his
proved to be the most unequivocally pro- sleeve, like a lot of people in the party to-
Israel in history; many Jewish leaders feel day."
Frequent trips to Israel, accompanied in
Mr. Gore, the man with the gold-plated leg-
islative record on Mideast issues, played a many eases by partisans such as Mr. Ami-
significant role in that warming of rela- thy, fueled Mr. Kemp's enthusiasm for the
tions. Jewish state.
"It's something he began to feel in his
This year, Mr. Kemp — who can use Yid-
dish expressions with the best of them — gut," Mr. Amitay said. "He got on very well
is serving a similar function for a presi- with Israeli leaders; it wasn't just a pose
dential candidate whose views on Israel with him to win political points."
Mr. Kemp, 61, the son of a small truck-
aren't in the same league with those of Mr.
Clinton, to use the sports parlance that is ing firm owner in Is Angeles, soon became
so much a part of the former quarterback's a pivotal figure in the Capitol Hill coalition
that protected Israel's big chunk of foreign
lexicon.
Jewish Republicans hope that Mr. aid, despite frequent attacks from both
Kemp's unimpeachable pro-Israel creden- sides of the aisle. As ranking Republican
tials and his unrestrained enthusiasm for on the Foreign Operations subcommittee,
Jewish groups will make up for the harsh the representative from Buffalo, N.Y., was
statements about Israel and the negative one of a handful of legislators who con-
votes that mar presidential nominee Bob trolled the aid funding.
At one point, according to Mr. Amitay,
Dole's Senate record.
The Gore vs. Kemp matchup may en- Mr. Kemp was offered the senior Repub-
liven a presidential race that was looking lican slot on the Defense Appropriations
like a snooze from a Jewish perspective. Committee, a much bigger prize in the com-
The presence of two ardent pro-Israel mittee hierarchy.
"He chose to stay on foreign ops because
politicians on the major-party tickets will
provide important reassurance to Jewish that's where Israel's aid money was," Mr.
voters that the "special relationship" be- Amitay said. "That shows the extent of his
tween Washington and Jerusalem will re- commitment to Israel."
Throughout his nine terms in the House,
main intact, no matter who occupies the
Mr.
Kemp was the man AIPAC and other
Oval Office next Jan» ary.
And the race may be a dry run for 2000, pro-Israel groups relied on to deliver the
when Mr. Gore and Mr. Kemp will have goods on the most critical issues such as
the edge in the competition for their par- aid and barring arms sales to Arab coun-
ties' nominations. tries.
As Housing and Urban Development sec-
"We've had pro-Israel candidates before,"
said a leading pro-Israel lobbyist in Wash- rotary in the Bush administration, he con-
ington. "But it would be a real boost for our tinued to speak out. When administration
cause to have two candidates who were so colleagues criticized Israel and the pro-Is-
openly and unreservedly on our side run- rael groups, Mr. Kemp fought back. It was
ning for the White House." Mr. Kemp who was on the receiving end of

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