JTA reports on Lieberman’s Jewish problem.
Jewish fund-raisers canvassed by JTA said they favored Lieberman — even those who profoundly disagree with him on Iraq.
But an internal Democratic poll of Connecticut Jews sees Lamont leading by 50 percent to 41 percent, JTA has learned. The sample was small, but the results were a dramatic departure from the 90-plus approval rating Lieberman scored among Jews after Al Gore named him as his running mate in 2000.
Connecticut Jews make up 111,000 of the state’s 3.4 million people, or a little more than 3 percent of the population, according to the Jewish Virtual Library.
Lieberman’s backers attribute the shift to opposition to the Iraq war. Jewish opposition to the war has always outpaced general opposition.
“I find the behavior of a large segment of the Jewish community to be reprehensible and outrageous,” said John Droney, a former chairman of the state party who is advising Lieberman to run as an independent. “When he’s in trouble like this, they all ought to rally to him. It’s too bad that you have to listen to an Irish-American to realize that you’ve got to support your own home cooking.”
Lamont, a cable TV millionaire, has closed the gap significantly by battering Lieberman on his support for the war and his friendliness to President Bush.
In a May 2 Quinnipiac poll of likely Democratic voters, Lieberman enjoyed a 65 percent to 19 percent lead. In a June 8 Quinnipiac poll, the lead had dwindled to 55-40. A recent Rasmussen poll showed Lieberman clinging to a six-point lead.
Message to Irish-American John Droney: you’re not helping.
Message to anti-Semites: “Jewish opposition to the war has always outpaced general opposition.”
I’ll take their word for that because that has been my experience, anecdotally. Lieberman will not win this primary by virtue of his steadfast support of Israel. He will not even win the majority of the Jewish vote. The more Jews that turn out, the worse Joe will do. That’s mainly because he’s an asshat and has nothing to do with Israel. Lieberman can’t even party. He’s not cool. I mean, look at this:
“Ned, I’m not George Bush,” Lieberman said during the debate.
Yeah, and I’m not Wayne Newton…what’s his point?
Lieberman is doomed. Lamont won the debate with a single sentence.
“Senator Lieberman, if you won’t challenge President Bush and his failed agenda, I will.”
Nuff said.
