The most important demographic for Barack Obama in November might be old Jews in Florida, and the most important old Jew in Florida is my grandmother. That's because, at least in 2000, Mama Ann voted twice: once normally and once when she sneaked into a booth to help a friend who couldn't see well and she punched the ballot for Al Gore. At least she thinks it was Gore. Obama, who has appointed a Jewish vote director in Florida and visited a temple in Boca Raton, has good reason to court old Florida Jews. They make up a significant portion of the voters in a key swing state, will go to the polls for absolutely anything and are a reliably liberal base that is just not into him. He wronged them by beating Hillary Clinton, whom they loved because she's feisty and tough, like a fifth Golden Girl. But it's also because he's young, seen as dovish on Israel and black, which is not the old Jews' favorite minority. If he were an old Asian guy who knew Krav Maga, he'd take Pompano in a landslide. I think I've just pitched the plot to The Karate Kid V.
展开▼
