Call it a case of mistaken identity — Mitt Romney is having trouble raising money from some Jewish donors because they believe one of his GOP presidential opponents, Michele Bachmann, is Jewish.
“Some Jewish donors are telling fund-raisers for Romney, a Mormon, that while they like him, they’d rather open their wallets for the ‘Jewish candidate,’ who they don’t realize is actually a Lutheran,” the New York Post reported.
One Romney fundraiser told the Post: “It’s a real problem.”
Some aides of the former Massachusetts governor reportedly are wondering whether the Bachmann camp is pushing the “Jewish Bachmann” idea to boost fundraising.
The Minnesota congresswoman frequently has spoken of her stay on a kibbutz in Israel. She went there in 1974, immediately after graduating from high school, on a mission sponsored by a Christian ministry, Newsmax reported in July.
Bachmann is one of Israel’s strongest supporters in Congress and has visited the Jewish state several times since taking office.
She told the American Israel Political Action Committee last year: “I am a Christian, but I consider my heritage Jewish, because it is the foundation, the roots of my faith as a Christian.”
Romney has been expressing his strong support for Israel, hoping to capitalize on President Obama’s waning support among Jewish voters disturbed by his policies toward Israel.
“We’re working very hard in the Jewish community because of Obama’s Israel problem,” a fundraiser told the Post.
“This was surprising.”
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