Martin Sieff , UPI senior political analyst, reports that Howard Dean is showing unexpected fundraising success among Jewish voters, even bettering Joe Lieberman's totals within his own Jewish community. Sieff cites as evidence Dean's catch of support from Steve Grossman, former head of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, of the Nonth District of Illinois, with a substantial Jewish constituency.

But, winning the support of Congresswoman Jan Schakowski is no big deal for Howard Dean. Schakowski is among the more left leaning members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, and a dove on the Middle East peace process.  Both Schakowski and  Luis Gutierrez, a Puerto Rican Congressman from Chicago , endorsed Dean this week.

Joe Lieberman is actually doing a bit better with his fundraising since the Gore endorsement of Dean, and is getting more press coverage. This has, to a small extent, breathed a few gasps of life into what appeared to be a dead campaign.

What is more significant for Lieberman is not the Jewish money or endorsements going to Dean, but  the much greater number of Jewish Americans contributing to the Bush campaign. I would be very surprised if the Jewish contributions to Bush are not larger than the Jewish contributions to the Dean or Lieberman campaigns so far. The fact that left wing Jews rally behind Dean is no great shock.

Lieberman has been hurt more by  the defection of conservative and centrist Jews, especially those who are very committed to Israel, who  fear that  a Jewish President might not be able to publicly stand up for Israel, the way a Christian President who supports Israel can (meaning Bush). 

Dean will continue to pick up endorsements, and probably the nomination, unless one primary alternative to him develops quickly, upon whom anti—Dean, or Dean sceptics can find a home. With everybody staying in the race and waiting for somebody else to knock Dean off somewhere,  each candidate's dreams of making a comeback in Delaware, or Arizona, or Oklahoma,, or
South Carolina, becomes more of a hopeless losing strategy. Running for President demands a large ego. Large egos do not easily admit defeat. So Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt, Lieberman, and Clark slog on as the anti—Dean group, and Dean sails to the nomination.

Posted by Richard 12 24 03