Looking for an absentee-voter boost in swing-states like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Donald Trump is actively courting American Jews living in Israel in what the campaign hints could be an insurance policy against a repeat of the 2000 Bush-Gore deadlock in Florida.
Managed by the Republicans Abroad Israel branch of the GOP, the new campaign targeting dual-citizens says American Jews residing in Israel are one of the largest overseas American populations, and unlike most expatriates, they lean Republican.
“[M]ost of the voters in Israel are Republicans,” a statement released by the GOP’s Israel branch read, adding that “the party is investing in a campaign in Israel"
“Israel is home to approximately 300,000 US citizens, making Israel one of the largest populations of non-resident US citizens,” says the Republicans Abroad Israel website.
While 300,000 potential voters may seem like a trivial number in an election that will likely see some 120 to 130 million votes cast, the Trump campaign said the concentration of voters in key battleground states could be crucial in a close election.
"In 2000 Bush won the election by 500 votes in Florida. If 600 Israelis from Florida had gone out to vote, they could have decided the election. That kind of situation could happen again."
The Trump campaign in Israel has launched a get out the vote operation micro-targeting eligible American voters, particularly those registered in the 10 to 12 battleground states that will decide the election.
Campaign activists are hitting Israeli malls in areas with high concentrations of American citizens to make their pitch to voters on the fence, and have begun distributing Trump hats, stickers, and buttons.
Emphasizing his support for Israel and playing up frustration among American-Israelis over the Obama administration’s handling of America’s relationship with Israel and the Iran nuclear deal, the Trump operation in Israel has rolled out a new logo with the slogan “Trump – the Israeli Interest” – in Hebrew.
"The Hebrew logo was designed in the same spirit as the American logo,” said a Trump campaign press release. “The message is clear: he is appealing to the American-Israeli community, which leans to the right politically and is more associated with the Republican Party."
Many American-Israelis "worry that Clinton would continue Obama's policies, and because of that are coming out to support Trump.”