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With eyes on NOvember, candidates will
target Jewish votes, support and funds.

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percent of the Jewish vote.
Bush, on the other hand, faces a
more uphill battle for Jewish support.
Jewish Republicans are an estimat-
ed 15 percent of the overall Jewish
electorate, and many Republican can-
didates have trouble attracting Jewish
supporters, who are traditionally lib-
eral or moderate on social issues.
But the number of Jews who vote
Republican. can fluctuate a good deal,

he day before Super
Tuesday, Vice President Al
Gore was in New York and
Texas GOv: G&irge W.
Bush was in California, but both were
out looking for the Jewish vote.
Now that each has sewn up his
party's nomination, will the presi-
dential candidates continue to seek
Jewish support? Or were the visits
to Jewish institutions merely
attempts to lock up last-minute
votes in states with large Jewish.
populations?
-
Jewish voters make up only a
tiny percent of the American
electorate, but have in the past
been seen as providing a swing
vote in certain key states that
affected the outcome of the gen-
eral presidential election.
Further, despite the numbers,
Republican presidential candidate Texas
Jews have traditionally played a
Gov. George W Bush, next to the Flame of
disproportionate role in American
Remembrance on March 6 at the Simon
politics since they are politically
Wiesenthal Center and Museum of
and financially active.
Tolerance in Los Angeles.
Both campaigns say they will
place a high priority on reaching
out to Jews.
depending on the candidate.
In fund-raising, as in vote gather-
Republicans received the highest
ing, the campaigns follow two paths in
percentage of Jewish votes in 1956,
their appeals to the Jewish community
when 40 percent voted for Dwight
— Bush has to demonstrate his wor-
Eisenhower; in 1980, Ronald Reagan
thiness and Gore has to maintain his.
won 39 percent.
The Gore campaign says the vice
Bush's speech at the Simon
president's meeting last week with the
Wiesenthal Center's Museum of
Conference of Presidents of Major
Tolerance in Los Angeles last week,
American Jewish Organizations was
may have been a signal to the Jewish
nothing out of the ordinary and Gore
community th a t he is reaching out.
will continue his long-standing com-
"It was a first and important step,"
mitment to the Jewish community.
says Bush spokeswoman Mindy
"The vice president's entire career
Tucker. "It sets the tone for the rest of
has been marked by dialogue with the
the campaign." Bush has been stress-
Jewish community," says Peter
ing the themes of religious tolerance
Ragone, a Gore spokesman.
and unity lately, and may use this
Gore doesn't need to change his
issue to attract Jewish support.
strategy to secure Jewish support for
Despite his lack of experience in
the general election in November,
foreign policy, Bush has tried to put
agrees Democratic pollster Mark
forth some strong positions on issues
Mellman, who says that Gore's record
relating to Israel. He has sought to
on Israel and domestic policies jibe
portray as too aggressive — and a
with those of most Jewish voters.
problem for Israel — the current
In both 1992 and 1996, the
adMinistration's desire to conclude an
Clinton-Gore team won about 80
TWO-SIDED SUPPORT on page 24

Photo by AP/Eric

SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic: ency

