Political Insider

Monday, September 29th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

The American Jewish Committee’s annual survey of Jewish Opinion is, as usual a rich mine of information about where the community’s head is at (check it out here). This week the Jewish Week will include a major story on some of its more intriguing - and potentially controversial - findings.

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign seems to think that the road to keeping the Democrats’ big majority of Jewish votes in November may run through the bimah.

First there was emergence of “Rabbis for Obama,” a groundbreaking group that has collected more than 400 signatures - mostly from the Reform and Conservative realms, as we reported last week, but with a smattering of Orthodox rabbis.

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

Larry Cohler-Esses in New York

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Jewish political circles were buzzing at midweek over reports that John McCain supporters in Florida and elsewhere are using “push polling” to link  the Democratic nominees to the PLO and other anti-Israel forces.

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

With Election Day now looking perilously close, the Barack Obama presidential campaign is ramping up its Jewish outreach in critical states like Florida.

And this week a group of rabbis - now approaching 400 - pitched in to make the Illinois senator’s case.

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Groups on the Christian right have long opposed Internal Revenue Service regulations barring pulpit endorsements of political candidates by pastors or overtly partisan activities at their churches.

This week the Alliance Defense Fund called for a day of pastoral civil disobedience on September 28.  And the guessing is it won’t be Barack Obama who gets endorsed from the pulpits.

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Since becoming the Democratic vice presidential nominee last month, political observers have been wondering whether Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) - known for his outspoken and unpredictable ways - would curb his tongue.

After all, he’s no longer just a senior senator but the junior partner in the highly disciplined Barack Obama campaign organization.

A Wednesday teleconference with Jewish reporters provided a partial answer. 

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Denver - As I reported this week, Jewish Democrats in the House and Senate are playing a key role in the Barack Obama campaign’s efforts to crank up the candidate’s Jewish numbers on November 4 and ease concerns about the nominee’s Mideast policies.

And none could be as important as Rep. Shelley Berkley D-Nev.).

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Will Sen. Joe Biden’s selection as Barack Obama’s running mate have much of an impact on the Jewish vote on November 4?

Well, it depends on your perspective.