Sixty-five percent of registered Jewish voters support Obama, 24 percent support Romney, with 10 percent undecided, according to a new American Jewish Committee (AJC) national survey. When asked preferences, the undecided split 63 percent for Obama and 27 percent for Romney.
The new AJC survey shows a striking divide by denomination.
Orthodox Jews support Romney over Obama by 54 to 40 percent. Conservative Jews are 64 to 23 percent for Obama. Reform Jews are 68 to 23 percent for the incumbent. The “just Jewish” vote goes 68 to 19 percent for Obama.
By gender, Obama does better among Jewish women, 69 to 19 percent, than among men, 61 to 29 percent, against Romney.
The Reason for Obama’s substantial lead over Romney is, as we have discussed before: For American Jews the most important issues in deciding how to vote are, in descending order, the economy, health care, and national security.
63 percent approve, and 37 percent disapprove, of the way Obama is handling the economy;
68 percent approve, and 32 percent disapprove, of the way Obama is handling health care;
76 percent approve, and 23 percent disapprove, of the way Obama is handling national security
For the majority of American Jews, Israel is very much a concern, not so much though, in determining their vote. Seventy-one percent agree and 27 percent disagree with the statement, “Caring about Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew.”
On the U.S.-Israel relationship, 61 percent approve, and 39 percent disapprove, of the way President Obama is handling it.
