Democrat Specter Reaches Out to His Jewish Base [Both Candidates discuss Israel]

Forward - Nathan Guttman.... at 80, the Jewish politician is facing a new kind of challenge. For the first time in decades, he is running on the Democratic side of the political map, trying to win a tough upcoming primary and a November race that pollsters now see as neck and neck.

.......Specter faces a tough May 18 primary race against Congressman Joe Sestak, a former three-star Navy admiral who is taking aim at Specter’s image as a Washington insider.

.......Based on conversations with several participants, most have already decided to favor their fellow Jewish Philadelphian.

“I’m a Specter supporter,” Marcie Sussman said. “I think Israel is very important to him, and I believe in many of the things he stands for.”

........Sestak, facing an uphill battle to win over Jewish votes from a popular Jewish incumbent, tried not to focus on the issue of Israel when speaking at the synagogue forum. After being asked about it, he spoke of his visit to Israel during his years in the navy and of his struggle to fund ship-based anti-missile systems to protect Israel.

But when interacting with pro-Israel crowds, Sestak also had to supply explanations not only for his speech at the CAIR event, but also for signing a letter calling on the secretary of state to work to alleviate pressure in Gaza. Sestak said this was a humanitarian interest that voters could easily understand, but Specter accused him of “questioning what Israel was doing” to counter Hamas.

Sestak is not the only candidate to learn that pronounced dovish views on the Middle East are not an asset when fighting for Jewish votes in Pennsylvania.

Another is Doug Pike, a strong Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District. Pike was endorsed by JStreetPAC and received $6,000 for his campaign. But pressure from donors, and what he described as “trouble in having a dialogue with some in the Jewish community, led Pike to rescind the endorsement and return the money. The former editorial writer of the Philadelphia Inquirer said in an interview that he feels “people are listening more” to his views after turning down the endorsement.  Full story