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Last update - 08:33 13/02/2008 Obama is gaining momentum- also among Jews By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Jewish vote, Hillary Clinton  Tom Lantos, Holocaust survivor and former Democratic Congressman, died at age 80, was one of Israel's greatest supporters. AlEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA- There is no way to estimate in exact numbers former Jewish Congressman Tom Lantos' contributions to Israel's prosperity and safety. He was 16 when the Nazis conquered Hungary, and sent him to a concentration camp. Afterwards, he escaped and found refuge with the Swedish Righteous Gentile Raoul Wallenberg. In 1947 he came to the United States to study, and stayed. In 1980, Lantos, an economics professor, was elected to Congress as a representative for his San Francisco hometown, and has been there since. The only Holocaust survivor in Congress- smart, authoritative, knowledgeable. Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee. On his office walls hangs Jerusalem lithography. In all these years, he was one of the greatest supporters of Israel and promoted human rights worldwide. He died Monday at age 80. A loss of this kind has no replacement. President Shimon Peres, described Lantos on Tuesday as "a fearless fighter for democracy, freedom, and human rights, a true and close friend of the State of Israel." Lantos fell ill many months ago, but was able to announce that as a "superdelegate"- a term for some of the Congressman belonging to the Democratic National Committee- he would support Hillary Clinton's candidacy. Similar to many other Jewish lawmakers and voters, but not to all. As the days pass, as Senator Barack Obama's momentum increases, it seems as though the majority of Jewish Democrats will support him. Last weekend, when California's votes were recounted, it became clear that Obama won the majority of the Jewish votes- the state where Lantos was from. Advertisement Last weekend, a substantial group of Jewish lawmakers from Maryland joined Obama's band of supporters. They announced that Obama supports Israel and will continue to support it. Even Jewish Congressman John Yarmuth joined the supporters camp. The "Potomac primaries" which will be held Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, are important for Obama, who wants to maintain his momentum after four consecutive victories last week- in Nebraska, Washington state, Louisiana, and Monday's win in Maine. They are important for Clinton too, who wants to steal Virginia at least from Obama. That way she can claim she had a nice achievement, for all in all, everyone assumed ahead of time that Obama's chances of winning those areas are greater. The last time Virginia voted for a Democratic president was a long time ago. Not Kerry, Gore, Clinton, Dukakis, Mondale, Carter, McGovern, or Humphrey. The year was 1964, and the winning candidate was Lyndon B. Johnson. Since then, only Republicans. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton think and believe that this is about to change. And they are thinking, each of them by separately: I am the candidate who can change this. What the two candidates attempted to do in their appearances in past days was to convince voters that they are the candidate who can beat Republican John McCain in Virginia. Obama emphasized the fact that independents are supporting him- that is to say, he is the candidate who can break the left-right tradition and bring new populations and countries to the Democratic line. Clinton claimed that only an experienced candidate who knows how to withstand attack and return fire can stand against McCain. This is an interesting turning point in the campaign, which is credited to the Republican opponent. Because the candidate from the right is already known, the voters have to not only make an ideological ruling- who they prefer- but also view the race pragmatically: Which candidate standing before us has the better chance of stopping McCain's train? Not that they didn't speak of this before, but now the selection is much more precise. The polls are speaking for Obama. He is leading McCain in a two-way race, while Clinton is close, sometimes in a small delay against McCain. All this is not important, Clinton headquarters say, since the attack on Obama from the right hasn't begun. If he is the elected candidate, the support for him will lessen and erode. To Clinton, they say, that can't happen. The voters already know everything possible about her. Anything bad that can be said about her has already been said. Whoever supports her anyhow, won't change his/her mind negatively- only positvely. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   STOP OBAMA 21:42  |  Aviva 12/02/08   2.   Say one thing, do another? 22:07  |  Morris Valentine 12/02/08   3.   Why are Jews Suicidal? 23:15  |  Amy 12/02/08   4.   Obama is a dangerous fool 23:27  |  Paul 12/02/08   5.   McCain will be the next president of the United States 23:49  |  George 12/02/08   6.   Obama has vision 00:28  |  Julianne 13/02/08   7.   obama 00:39  |  Andras Altman 13/02/08   8.   "Now that we have commited our troops"! 00:42  |  ballistic 13/02/08   9.   #3 Amy, so what? 00:50  |  ballistic 13/02/08   10.   Paul # 4 00:54  |  Greg 13/02/08   11.   #2 Say Morris 00:54  |  ballistic 13/02/08   12.   Lantos, a Devout Mormon 01:14  |  Mark Ross 13/02/08   13.   if these american jews live in s`derot...they may change 03:08  |  maria 13/02/08   14.   DAVKA EFSHAR! YALLA OBAMA! 03:09  |  Matt 13/02/08   15.   who`s barack obama? 03:10  |  maria 13/02/08   16.   americans in the usa don`t see that.... 03:14  |  maria 13/02/08   17.   Telecom immunity 03:16  |  Tell A Com 13/02/08   18.   amy .....have you voted yet? 03:17  |  maria 13/02/08   19.   American Jews Love America 04:01  |  Rosner Reader 13/02/08   20.   American Jews Love America 04:08  |  Rosner Reader 13/02/08   21.   Do American Non-Jews Love America? 06:51  |  Simon 13/02/08   22.   Response to Simon 08:04  |  Rosner Reader 13/02/08   23.   American politics 09:15  |  Sam 13/02/08   24.   OBAMA LOVES ISRAEL 11:23  |  ALEX KIMWATAN 13/02/08   25.   he supported human rights? 14:02  |  sam i am 13/02/08   26.   Americans 16:27  |  Rasmuncher 13/02/08   27.   #5 McCain 16:48  |  SR 13/02/08   28.   Obama is a Farrakhanite 18:11  |  Steven 13/02/08   29.   I`m voting for OBAMA 19:20  |  Horst Wessel 13/02/08   30.   Obama appeal 22:36  |  Bubble Burster 13/02/08   31.   #28 Steven in California--Who Cares????? 23:16  |  kathy 13/02/08   32.   #1 Akiva 23:47  |  kathy 13/02/08   33.   To #31 Millions of Americans do 00:39  |  Steven 14/02/08   34.   krazy kathy of sioux city IA 02:12  |  akiva (zionist) 14/02/08   35.   Israeli/American/Lifelong Republican - Voting for Obama 05:27  |  Moshe 14/02/08   36.   Maria, you forgot to say that the rumor is false. 05:34  |  Todd Hillier 14/02/08   37.   BO 06:34  |  Alcycle 14/02/08   38.   #34 Akiva 16:37  |  kathy 14/02/08   39.   #33 Steven of CA 16:42  |  kathy 14/02/08   40.   RIGHTISTS: STOP ALL THE HYSTERICAL LIES, PLEASE 04:14  |  David 15/02/08   41.   Obama`s adviser was in Syria - yesterday! 04:59  |  jGOP 15/02/08   42.   Hi Kathy 18:59  |  ballistic 15/02/08   43.   #41 Well that is wonderful, simply wonderful!!! 19:17  |  ballistic 15/02/08   44.   decent people 22:57  |  mehmet 15/02/08   45.   #41 Well that is wonderful!!! 23:43  |  ballistic 15/02/08   46.   dear Maria, think twice 00:46  |  Mesfin 16/02/08   47.   Many Jews backed Hitler 16:00  |  Yonatan 16/02/08   48.   Why Not? 20:43  |  Ross 16/02/08   49.   Kathy of souix city, levitation is not the answer 02:19  |  amazed american 18/02/08   50.   aside from the candidates, naive or not. 07:31  |  amazed american 18/02/08   51.   Golly Yonaton---calm down!! 23:47  |  ballistic 18/02/08   52.   No substance 16:12  |  Larry S 25/02/08   53.   Stop Obama Part II 17:24  |  Fredrick 02/03/08

Today Online 10 Gazans killed, Israeli wounded in ongoing violence Responses: 156 EU joins UN in slamming use of 'disproportionate' force in Gaza Responses: 280 Barak to Justice Min.: Can IDF legally hit civilian areas used to fire rockets? Responses: 111 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 100 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 69 Rosner's Domain Battle of Ohio: Will Tzipi meet Hillary? No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 18:09 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing Gaza op 18:15 Israeli lightly wounded as 21 rockets slam in western Negev 17:01 Barak to Justice Min.: Can IDF legally hit civilian areas used to fire rockets? 17:26 Hebron teen dies, 3 Israelis hurt as violence spreads to W. Bank 15:47 EU joins UN in slamming use of 'disproportionate' force in Gaza 17:41 Expats' kids in IDF: 'If I don't help defend my home then who will?' 15:17 Hillary Clinton comes out swinging as Ohio primary nears 18:11 Israeli Arab groups to hold series of protests against Gaza offensive 15:39 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange slumps amid violence in south 14:12 Saudi Arabia compares IDF Gaza operation to Nazi war crimes 13:59 Ahmadinejad in Iraq: First-ever visit opens new chapter in ties Previous Editions Select Day 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb

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