VOTE
Could Swing Presidential Race
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
ith a presidential race as close as
this year's contest, anything could
swing the election. Like other eth-
nic groups, Jewish observers believe
the Jewish vote could be a decisive factor in pick-
ing a new president.
Several hotly contested states with large elec-
toral votes also have large Jewish populations.
Florida has one of the largest Jewish constituen-
cies in the country (637,000 people), and the
state's 25 electoral votes are up for grabs.
Democratic pollster Mark Mellman said the
race in Florida could decide the presidency, and it
is a state where the Jewish vote is highly organ-
ized and is likely to favor Democrat Al Gore over
Republican George W. Bush.
Many of the senior citizen communities in
south Florida have a hierarchy of building cap-
tains and floor captains who work to get out the
senior citizen vote.
"There is a long-standing relationship with Al
Gore and Jewish communities," Mellman said.
And the presence of a Jewish vice presidential
candidate may produce a larger turnout among
senior citizens, he said. "Everywhere, it's a ques-
tion of how big is the margin and what is the
turnout," he said.
That is the case in Pennsylvania, where Jews are
2.4 percent of the population, and the candidates
are neck and neck for 23 electoral votes.
Because Jews vote at a higher rate than some
other ethnic groups, that adds to the weight of
their coalition, Mellman said.
Ohio is another undecided state with a large
number of electoral votes (21) and a substantial
Jewish population (144,000 people).
But many other states with a large Jewish pres-
ence, including New York, New Jersey and
California, are believed to be tilting toward Gore.
Another interesting state for Jewish voters to
watch is Michigan, where the Bush and Gore
campaigns are courting the state's substantial
Arab-American community.
Mellman said the concern over the Arab vote
may bring more Jews to the polling place and
increase support for Gore in Michigan. ❑
11/3
2000
22
Above: The Liebermans and
Gores appear at a rally Oct. 29
at Macomb Community College
in Warren, during the kickoff of the
candidates' "Great Lakes Prosperity
Tour" that continued through
Michigan and Wisconsin.
On The
Campaign
Trail
Hadassah Lieberman, wife of
vice-presidential candidate Joseph
Lieberman, reads a children's book
to kids attending Tyndall Center
in Oak Park on Oct. 26. Later
that day, she spoke to several
hundred Democratic Party
supporters at the Excalibur
Conference Center in Southfield.