Jewish vote-courting: TV-ads airing

by Mark Silva

In the campaign for the Jewish vote, the Republican Jewish Coalition has been running ads in Jewish weekly newspapers in Florida and in other battleground states challenging Barack Obama's commitment to Israel.

Now the ads are going on the air: Running for the final two weeks of the campaign on broadcast and cable television in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Nevada. The group claims to be spending more than $1 million, which is a relatively modest buy, considering the size of the TV markets in the states they are targeting, but the message of the ads is highly noticeable.

The ad features a video clip from a July 2007 Democratic primary debate where Obama was asked if he would "be willing to meet, separately, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea?" His reply: "I would."

The next day, in an interview with the Quad City Times of Iowa, Sen. Hillary Clinton characterized Obama's stance as "irresponsible and frankly naïve."

The ad warns: "Hillary was right. The stakes are too high. Concerned about Barack Obama's naïve foreign policy? You should be."

"We are investing considerable resources in getting this message out because we believe that Sen. Obama's naïve foreign policy thinking raises serious concerns about his judgment'' the RJC's Matt Brooks says. "Our country needs experienced, thoughtful leaders to take us safely through the tough times ahead."

The Republicans are attempting to break a near 80-percent Democratic lock on the Jewish vote -- President Bush drew 22 percent at reelection. Any new inroads this year -- in say, South Florida or Cleveland -- could prove pivotal in close election contests such as Florida's or Ohio's.

For more on how the Obama camaign is attempting to counteract this drive in the Jewish community, see the Swamp's report from Cocnunt Creek, Florida.