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I want your vote – Obama wooing Florida's Jewish grandmas
Photo: AFP

Obama wooing Florida Jews

Presidential hopeful concerned about inadequate Jewish support, visits Boca Raton synagogue. Iraq pullout would make it easier for US to deal with Iran, he says during visit

WASHINGTON – Presidential hopeful Barack Obama made an appearance at a Florida synagogue Thursday in an effort to woo the Jewish vote in the important southern state.

 

Speaking at the the "B'Nai Torah" synagogue in Boca Raton, Obama said the threat posed by Iran was grave and immediate, pledging to lift it should he become president. He added that an American withdrawal from Iraq would make it easier for the US to deal with Iran.

  

"Israel has many friendships, but none is deeper than the bond between Israel and the United States of America," Obama said. "A broad majority of Americans understand this special relationship, and when I am in the White House, I will bring an unshakable commitment to maintaining that bond.

 

"The greatest threat to Israel today obviously comes from Iran," the presidential hopeful added, "the threat of Iran is real and it is great, and my goal as president will be to eliminate it."

 

Meanwhile, a poll released Thursday showed that Hillary Clinton would defeat Republican candidate John McCain in Florida should she win the Democratic party's nomination, while Obama would lose to McCain.

 

The poll highlights Obama's problem in Florida, and particularly the relatively low level of support he enjoys among members of the state's Jewish community. Most Jewish voters in the Florida are pensioners who tend to overwhelming vote for the Democratic Party, but many of them say they will be voting for the Republican McCain this time around should he face off against Obama.

 

In an effort to change the picture, Obama appeared at the Boca Raton synagogue.

 

Obama to appear at AIPAC convention

Meanwhile, The Republican Jewish Congress took out an ad in three southern Florida newspapers, the largest concentration of Jews in the state, presenting three tough questions to Obama:

 

In an interview, you called for a summit of Muslim nations, including Iran and Syria, but excluding Israel. Why? One of your top advisors, Tony McPeak, placed blame on Miami and NY Jews for the failure of the Middle East peace process, yet he remains in this role. Why? You were a board member of a foundation that funded, during your tenure, the Arab American Action Network, a pro-Palestinian organization. Why?

 

This ad further illustrates the tough battle Obama can expect when it comes to the Jewish vote and to the Republican public relations machine. However, Obama is expected to make a special effort to enlist Jewish support in the next two weeks, a push that will culminate in his appearance at the annual AIPAC convention in early June.

 

The three presidential candidates - Obama, Clinton, and McCain - are all scheduled to appear at the conference, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and possibly by President George W. Bush.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.22.08, 21:44
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