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November 1, 2002/Cheshvan 26 5763, Vol. 55, No. 10
Jewish candidates vie for victories
SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Four Jewish candidates are vying for seats in the U.S. Senate, 35 for seats in the House of Representatives and two for seats in their state's governor's mansion.
For those keeping a Jewish scorecard, it's an average year, as the number of Jewish candidates goes.
But on the eve of next week's midterm elections, the political landscape appears anything but typical.
Control of both the Senate and the House are at stake on Nov. 5. And the outcome of the election could affect everything from legislative priorities to who controls powerful congressional committees to how much the Bush administration will drive the agenda.
With a staggering economy, a war with Iraq brewing and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict still embroiling the Middle East, the leadership and approach of Congress is significant.
In addition to Jewish candidates, with Jewish turnout at the polls often disproportionately high, the Jewish vote could prove pivotal in several races.
And how they cast their votes will be watched with great interest, not only by the candidates themselves but by those who believe that Jews are growing closer to the Republican Party.
"There will be overwhelming Jewish support for Democratic candidates despite the predictions of Jews going to vote Republican," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster.
As Election Day approaches, Jewish political junkies are watching some key races around the country, some with Jewish candidates, some without.
Among the Senate races:
- In Minnesota, the Senate race with two Jewish candidates came to an abrupt halt with the death last week of Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.). Wellstone had been locked in an extremely tight race against a Jewish Republican, Norm Coleman.
Coleman, who like Wellstone, has received financial and political support within the Jewish community, could face even stiffer competition now from Walter Mondale, the former senator and vice president, who is likely to replace Wellstone on the ballot.
- In New Jersey, another former senator, this one Jewish, is also hoping to rejoin the Senate.
Democrat Frank Lauten-berg, who retired from his Senate seat in 2000 and was venerated by the Jewish community, could win the New Jersey seat vacated by Sen. Robert Torricelli, also a Democrat, who quit the race following charges of ethics violations.
The outcome of the New Jersey and Minnesota races will determine whether the Senate retains a minyan of 10 Jews.
Only one current Jewish senator, Carl Levin (D-Mich.) is up for reelection - in a race he is expected to win.
A fourth Jewish candidate, Alan Blinken of Idaho, is not expected to win against the Republican incumbent, Sen. Larry Craig.
The eight other incumbent senators who will serve in the 108th Congress are: Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
- In New Hampshire, the race for the Senate pits Gov. Jean Shaheen against Rep. John Sununu. Shaheen has garnered some Jewish financial support, mostly to block Sununu.
In the House of Representatives, some of the most interesting congressional races already played out in the primaries.
Reps. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.) and Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), both considered anti-Israel figures, lost their primaries after Jews spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their challengers.
A number of other anti-Israel lawmakers are not returning to Capitol Hill for various reasons - including retirement or the decision to run for other office - thereby raising Jewish hopes that the 108th Congress will be one of the most pro-Israel congresses in years.
Some House races of note include:
- The 13th District in Florida, where a Jewish Democrat, Jan Schneider, is running against Republican Secretary of State Katherine Harris in a new district in Florida.
- In California's 27th District, Democratic incumbent Brad Sherman is pitted against Republican challenger Robert Levy, in the only "Jew vs. Jew'' race in the House.
- Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is likely to be the only Jewish Republican to serve in the next Congress, since Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.) is retiring, unless Levy pulls off an upset in California.
- Two Jews involved in their local Jewish communities are running on Democratic tickets in two new districts in the South. Harry Jacobs, an attorney and past president of the Orlando Jewish federation, is running as a Democrat in Florida's 24th District; and Roger Kahn, a businessman active in Atlanta's Jewish community, is running in Georgia's 11th District. Kahn is believed to have a better shot than Jacobs at winning.
- Rahm Emmanuel, a former counselor to President Clinton, will probably win a seat in the heavily Democratic 5th District in Illinois.
- Five prominent Jewish lawmakers are running opposed - Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.).
When the campaign season began, it looked like it could be the year for Jewish governors, with seven candidates.
Now, the number of Jewish candidates is down to two, but both Democrat Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania and Republican Linda Lingle in Hawaii are thought to have very good chances of winning.
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