LAS VEGAS — Influential Jewish Republicans are still searching for a contender to back for their party’s presidential nomination, but crowd favorites are beginning to emerge.
Both because it’s early in the process and the field of candidates is so deep, politically active Jewish Republicans and top campaign financiers are hedging their bets as they consider whom they prefer to throw against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few early leaders in the race for their money, Rolodexes and the value they would add as political operatives who could forge connections inside and outside the Jewish community.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition on Saturday during the group’s annual spring meeting at The Venetian hotel and casino, wowed the gathering and has quickly — and unexpectedly — established himself as a player for Jewish Republican support, particularly among the grassroots. Coalition members interested in learning more about the conservative insurgent’s campaign mobbed Cruz advisor Nick Muzin, an orthodox Jew, who worked the ballroom after the senator departed.
But the coalition is an Establishment-oriented group. The board and other senior leaders, who include mega donors like Sheldon Adelson and Paul Singer, consist of veteran GOP insiders, including former ambassadors appointed by President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush. That’s an advantage for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who are in the lead for Jewish GOP money and other support at this early stage, followed closely by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
“There are many different camps. But I think the top tier is Bush and Walker. Rubio is doing well, and then I do think, especially among grassroots, a lot of people are shopping around,” said Ari Fleischer, a board member and former press secretary to George W. Bush who plans to remain neutral in the GOP primary.
Cruz and former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas were the only two 2016 contenders to address the Republican Jewish Coalition during the Saturday session open to all spring meeting attendees. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also participated in the weekend, however, as did Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who also is planning to run for president. Many top campaigns were represented by aides and volunteer advisors. All worked behind the scenes to pitch activists and donors and lock down support.
Walker, who has previously addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition and made inroads because of his executive experience and victories in a blue state, dispatched top political advisor Rick Wiley and chief foreign policy aide Michael Gallagher to Las Vegas. They held a private briefing Friday attended by about 50 coalition members. Also Friday, Jeb Bush Jr., who handles outreach to young professionals for his father’s team, hosted an event attended by about 60 coalition members.
Rubio’s team didn’t hold any officially organized meetings, but among his top bundlers is coalition board member Wayne Berman, who was here, as was volunteer supporter Adam Hasner, a coalition member from the Sunshine State who served with the senator when he was speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Rubio appeals because of his foreign policy fluency and communication skills; his hurdle is convincing this crowd to back a first-term senator.
Even with these early favorites, former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman said there is still room — and time — for other contenders to grab the attention and support of Jewish Republicans. It’s a radically different situation than at this point in 2012. Although Adelson backed Newt Gingrich in that primary, most viewed eventual nominee Mitt Romney as the only viable presidential GOP contender and backed him. There is no consensus candidate; grassroots GOP Jews, especially, are still in shopping mode.
“You’ve got a field of a lot of thoroughbreds. Last time you had Mitt Romney and some others,” said Coleman, a coalition board member supporting Graham. “A lot of folks have a lot of interest in a lot of candidates.”
To the degree that the influential players are holding back, some of it can be chalked up to timing — it’s still early in primary campaign and not all of the expected candidates have officially kicked off their bids. Still another factor is that many of the biggest activists and donors have relationships with multiple contenders. Joining one team means disappointing many of their friends, something some will put off until they absolutely have to choose.
With perhaps the exception of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, virtually all of the Republicans seeking the White House have staked out hawkish positions on Israel and the Middle East. The contenders are united in their view that President Obama’s emerging deal with Iran to limit the Islamic regime’s nuclear weapons capabilities should be abandoned and that the U.S. needs to re-establish it’s connection with Israel as the indispensable American ally in the region.
That could downplay the candidates’ foreign policy views and position on Israel as deciding factors in the race for the support of leading Jewish donors and activists, putting a premium on electability and who is best positioned to defeat Clinton, who would be the first woman to lead a major party ticket, in the general election. Electability and other political concerns have historically determined which horse GOP insiders pick in presidential primaries.
“Obviously they’re looking for people who are committed and strong on Israel but more importantly — the dominating factor right now is electability,” said Saul Anuzis, a GOP operative and coalition member from Michigan backing Cruz. “People realize it’s going to be a tough election; it’s really Hillary Clinton’s to lose at this stage of the game.”
Disclosure: The wife of the author works as an adviser to Scott Walker.
