Smart piece by Ethan Porter in New Republic saying Obama held on to the Jews with many a shrewd move. And making the point that Palin alienated Jews on cultural grounds, being from a small town and not very literate and only faux Israel-centric:
convention in late September (after the Council initially requested
Obama), he was greeted like an old friend coming home. He was
affectionately introduced by Michael Adler, a former NJDC chair; the
two have known each other for 30 years. In a hushed, passionate tone,
Biden recalled bringing his children to visit Auschwitz, as well as his
own trips to Israel. When hearing politicians speak about Israel, "Jews
want to see the emotion," says Jay Footlik, who directed Jewish
outreach for John Kerry…
Conversely,
it would be hard to overestimate the role that Sarah Palin has played
in bringing the Jewish vote solidly behind Obama. During the national
honeymoon that followed her selection and convention speech, Jewish
voters simply did not share the rest of the country's enthusiasm–and
that was the very moment when Jewish polling numbers began to tip back
in Obama's favor. According to an American Jewish Committee poll, 54
percent of Jews disapproved of her selection. As [Ed] Koch told me, perhaps summarizing the Jewish community's collective response: "She scares the hell out of me."
