Posted by
J-GOP on Monday, January 21, 2008 11:13:31 AM
For many Jewish voters, Joe Lieberman is nothing short of a political icon. After all, he was the first Jewish politician to enter the inner circle of a potential presidency when Al Gore selected him as his Vice-Presidential running mate in the 2000 election.
In addition, his continued staunch support for the war on terrorism in the face of widespread appeasement and ridicule by his fellow Democratic party members who were against the war, earned him the respect of Conservative and Republican Jewish voters alike . His re-election as an Independent beating back the Democratic juggernaut that backed his rival Ned Lamont showed the rest of the country that Democrats could be beaten in the northeast, and that Connecticut voters did in fact have their heads screwed on straight.
With Florida so critical to winning Presidential elections as it has shown in 2000 and 2004, could Joe Lieberman be the ticket (pardon the pun) to the GOP once again winning the state? That's the question posed by an article in the Jewish publication, Haaretz.com, entitled, "Will Florida Jews follow Joe Lieberman and vote GOP?". As the article states:
"In national polls McCain is still seen as the candidate most likely to be able to defeat a Hillary Clinton or a Barack Obama. This was exactly the message that Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman gave in a speech to the "Jewish Republican Coalition" in Boca Raton, Florida.
Over the next week and a half, Lieberman will address a number of heavily Jewish crowds in Florida in support of the McCain campaign. Before the heavily-Jewish crowds, Lieberman emphasized McCain's pro-Israel voting record and his knowledge of the Iranian threat. Lieberman didn't level harsh criticism on the democratic candidates, after all, he is for the most part still a democrat. Nonetheless, Lieberman doesn't seem convinced that the democratic candidates fully understand the Iranian threat."
While many Jewish Repubilicans would prefer to see Rudy Guiliani get the Republican nomination, most may have to hold their nose and vote for McCain should he get the nod. The Jewish vote may get even more complicated should McCain choose Lieberman as his running mate!
One thing is for sure. The upcoming Florida primary will certainly tell us whether McCain or Guiliani will be the ultimate candidate for moderate wing of the Republican party and for Jewish voters of all stripes. In either case, if Joe Lieberman can attract liberal and moderate Jewish Democrats to vote Republican and deny either Hillary Clinton or Barrack Obama the presidency, all the better!