Photo Credit: Promotional image
Comic Sarah Silverman is the least representative of Jewish values, according to a new survey.

As of now, 62 percent of Jewish voters favor Obama’s return—down from 78 percent in 2008—but this number is still more than twice the number who said they would prefer a Republican candidate, according to the survey released Tuesday at a National Press Club briefing.

The poll of 1,004 American Jews was conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and was funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation, which supports liberal Jewish causes.

Advertisement




Mitt Romney, at 58 percent, had the greatest support among Jews who would vote Republican. Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul trail with 15 percent, 13 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Seven percent of Jews who voted for Obama in 2008 said they would prefer a Republican candidate in 2012.

The survey looked at how Jewish values, experiences and identity are shaping political beliefs and behavior, as well as influencing social action in the Jewish community.

Some 51 percent of Jewish voters said the economy would be most important to their vote for the next president. Fifteen percent cited the gap between rich and the poor, 10 percent said health care, and 7 percent saw the federal deficit as being important to their vote.

The survey also found 84 percent saying that pursuing justice and 80 percent saying that caring for the widow and orphan are somewhat or very important values that inform their political beliefs and activities.

The survey presented a list of eight public figures and asked respondents to rate how well the individuals represented Jewish values. The list included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, comedian Jon Stewart and US Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.).

Netanyahu topped the list, with 73 percent saying he represented Jewish values well or very well. Comic Sarah Silverman was at the bottom, with 37 percent saying she represented Jewish values well or very well, trailing just behind Cantor at 38 percent.

Advertisement

SHARE
Previous articleYa’alon Wants Barak Removed from Decision Making on Hebron House, Jewish Communities
Next articleWorld’s Largest Haredi News Portal Suspected of Corruption, Blackmail
Tibbi Singer is a veteran contributor to publications such as Israel Shelanu and the US supplement of Yedioth, and Jewish Business News.