A poll based on a small sample suggests that Jewish identification with Republicans has surged.
The Pew Research Center poll breaks down party support by religion. It shows that 33 percent of Jewish voters are identifying or leaning toward Republicans this year, up from 20 percent in 2008 and 26 percent in 2006. The poll reports that Jews identifying or leaning toward Democrats are at 57 percent this year, down from 64 percent in 2008 and 62 percent in 2006.
The overall poll canvassed more than 3,000 voters; 2 percent, or about 60 people, identified as Jewish. Mainstream pollsters regard numbers below 250 respondents as unreliable.
The principal finding of the poll conducted in late July and early August shows a sharp decline in the percentage of Americans who regard President Barack Obama, a regular churchgoer, as Christian, from a high of 51 percent in October 2008 to 34 percent in the latest poll. — jta