Jews comprise eight percent of the electorate in Florida and usually vote for the Democratic candidate, but Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain's intensive synagogue and condominium campaign appearances may turn the tide Tuesday, American Election Day.
The latest national polls indicate that Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama will take more than two-thirds of the Jewish vote. However, victories in large swing states, such as Florida and Pennsylvania, may be decisive in the final tally. Under the American electoral college system, the 'winner-takes-all' rule applies on a state-by-state basis, meaning that a candidate can win a majority of votes but still lose the election.
The McCain campaign, especially in Florida, has leaned heavily on the support of Jewish Sen. Joe Lieberman, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate who has turned independent and is backing Sen. McCain.
University of Miami professor Ira M. Sheskin told the Palm Beach, Florida Post, "Jews continue to concentrate in the most populous states with the most electoral votes. With elections being decided by one to five percentage points even this small minority can influence an election, particularly in states with somewhat larger percentages of Jews.
"The data show that the political leanings of American Jews are consistent from generation to generation, and that the American Jewish community will almost certainly continue to be more associated with the Democratic Party."
In the 2004 elections, President Bush won only 19 percent of the Jewish vote nationwide, and Sen. McCain is expected to win slightly more in Tuesday balloting.
The electorate has been subjected to months of electioneering but at least has been able to take things in a lighter vein with the McCain-Obama duel also being fought by comedians Tina Fey, Sarah Silverman and Jackie Mason, whose impersonations, jokes and speeches have been hits on Saturday Night Live and YouTube.