The Jewish Vote: Low numbers for Bush

November 8, 2004

Source: Independent Press Association

http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=1748

On November 8, 2004 Independent Press Association reported, "in May, President George W. Bush was greeted by many delegates to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference with chants of 'Four more years.' On Tuesday, Bush won that second term by a narrow margin, but apparently without a significant boost from the Jewish community. A year’s worth of high-powered Republican outreach to Jewish voters and widespread praise for the president’s pro-Israel policies produced only a small gain from the Bush-Cheney 2000 totals. Bush garnered 24 percent of the Jewish vote – compared to 19 percent four years ago – while Kerry took 76 percent, according to an exit poll published by CNN and The Washington Post. Privately, some pro-Israel activists worried that the lower-than-expected Jewish response to Republican overtures could have an impact on U.S. Mideast policy. But most analysts argued that Bush’s commitment to the Jewish state and his support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon are more personal than political."