JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Whither the Orthodox Dems?

By Ben Harris · January 31, 2008

Couple of interesting nuggets today about where Orthodox Democrats are leaning in the election. According to the Daily News, New York City Councilman Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat, is planning to vote for Obama out of concern for the racially-tinged language employed by the Clintons in advance of the South Carolina primary.

Felder's announcemnt should heighten concern in the Clinton camp for its prospects in Brooklyn, which the News calls a "hotbed" of Obama support. Over at Politico, Ben Smith reports that the Clintons are "scrambling" to woo Orthodox voters in the borough. Here's how Smith breaks it down:

Their concern is that many of the Orthodox — whose political leaders support Clinton — simply won't vote. While they may be registered Democrats, they often vote Republican, and support Mike Bloomberg for mayor and backed Giuliani's bid for president. African-American turnout, meanwhile, has been stunningly high in the early primaries.