Jewish Dems launch ad campaign targeting voters in US swing districts
Ahead of midterms, JDCA says it’s pouring six figures into reaching Jewish voters across country, with their vote likely to be crucial in several key battles, particularly Florida
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WASHINGTON — Jewish Democrats launched a targeted advertising campaign on Tuesday ahead of the hotly contested US midterm elections that could dramatically impact the remainder of President Donald Trump’s presidency.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America, an advocacy arm for US Jews in the Democratic Party, said it was pouring more than six figures into digital ads throughout the country as an effort to help Democrats regain control of at least one chamber of Congress, as well as a few governor’s mansions.
“The races we are targeting are very close, and we are convinced that the Jewish vote will make the difference in support of Democrats,” said JDCA Executive Director Halie Soifer.
“By reaching approximately half a million Jewish Democrats – many multiple times – the Jewish Democratic Council of America is playing a significant role in helping Democrats take back the Senate and House,” she said.
Along with announcing its advertising campaign, the advocacy group said it was endorsing twelve more Democratic candidates running in the 2018 cycle, including California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom and Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Those candidates — JDCA’s seventh round of endorsees — are among the 58 candidates they have backed ahead of the November 6 election, 52 of which are running for Congress.
Jewish voters are energized and ready to turn out in full force this November. We are committed to Getting Out the Jewish Vote in over 50 races across the country.
Join our fight >> https://t.co/8cCNPt0dSI pic.twitter.com/ofi70G01Mt
— Jewish Dems (@USJewishDems) October 23, 2018
The candidates, Soifer said, are “committed to protecting the environment, ensuring reproductive rights, making quality affordable healthcare available to every American, ensuring common sense gun laws, and supporting a strong relationship between the United States and Israel.”
She went on, “We know from non-partisan polling that Jews will overwhelmingly support Democrats, and we are confident that the Jewish vote will play a critical role in helping Democrats take back control of Congress in November.”
The organization said it is trying to reach Jewish voters in districts and states where the Jewish community can tip the balance. This is especially true in Florida, which has two statewide elections with national implications.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, is running for the US Senate against incumbent Bill Nelson and Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis is running against Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum for the governor.
Some five percent of the population of the hotly contested state is Jewish, making the community a potential game-changer that can shift the balance if the election is a close call.
Current polling suggests it is unlikely Democrats can take control of the Senate, but they stand a good chance to regain a majority in the House.
If they do, Donald Trump’s presidency is likely to become even more tumultuous, as Democratic control of the House Judiciary Committee would almost surely result in more investigations into allegations his campaign colluded with Russian operatives during the 2016 and that he tried to obstruct justice by firing former FBI director James Comey.
Recent polling has found that Trump is deeply unpopular with American Jews. The American Jewish Committee found last year that 77 percent had an unfavorable view of him.
Another survey conducted earlier this month by the Mellman Group, a Democratic polling group, found that 75% of American Jews said they planned to vote for Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterms.
The Times of Israel Community.