The Republican Party, under the banner of former President Donald Trump, is poised to garner unprecedented support from Jewish voters in the forthcoming election cycle.
John McLaughlin, a pollster from the Trump campaign, shared with The New York Post, President Trump has a chance to get the largest share of the Jewish vote ever. Antisemitism is a real issue.
Historically, Democratic presidential candidates have secured approximately 70 percent or more of the Jewish vote. However, Republican predecessors like Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower managed to secure around 40 percent of the Jewish vote during their respective campaigns.
According to The Post Millennial, McLaughlin attributes the surge in Jewish support for the GOP in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia, to the rise in antisemitism and the perceived hostility of progressive Democrats towards Israel. He further speculated that this increase could potentially influence down-ballot races and even sway the Electoral College, given that President Joe Biden won these states by a mere 3 percent or less in 2020.
Adding to the shifting political landscape, Democratic "Squad" members, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), have both lost their primary elections in their respective states. A recent poll sponsored by the Teach Coalition revealed that Jewish voters in New York and Pennsylvania are more motivated to vote due to the escalating antisemitism and Israel's conflict with Hamas. The survey showed Trump receiving support from 43 percent of Jewish voters in Pennsylvania.
A poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute last week revealed that Trump had the backing of 50 percent of likely Jewish voters in New York, slightly edging out Vice President Kamala Harris, who garnered 49 percent of respondents. Trump, in a press conference last week, suggested that Jewish individuals who don't vote for him should "get their head examined" due to the perceived anti-Israel sentiment within the Democratic Party.
Anti-Israel activists in Michigan told The New York Times last week that Harris had pledged an arms embargo against Israel. Harris has also advocated for an "immediate cease-fire. Despite these calls, Hamas remains a threat, with over 100 hostages, including eight Americans, yet to be returned. During an interview with ABC News in March, Harris warned of "consequences" for Israel if the IDF invaded the Gazan city of Rafah, the last stronghold for Hamas terrorists in the territory. Speculations are rife that Tim Walz was chosen as her VP pick over Josh Shapiro due to the Pennsylvania governors Jewish heritage.
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