Poll of Americans in Israel finds strong Romney support

By Justin Sink - 05/18/12 10:11 AM ET

A poll of Americans living in Israeli who have the ability to vote in November's election finds strong support for Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Romney was the choice of 32 percent of expats in Israel, versus just under 15 percent for President Obama. Many potential voters remain undecided or do not intend to cast a ballot in the American election, according to the survey published in the Jerusalem Post.

The Republican challenger's support seems primarily driven by the perception among those surveyed that he is stronger on Israel-related issues. Two-thirds of Americans in Israel say that issues relating to the nation in which they now reside are key to their vote, and more see Romney as having a favorable view toward Israel.

Some 85 percent of respondents called Romney "friendly" toward Israel, while only 7 percent described his stance as "unfriendly." President Obama, meanwhile, was described as "friendly" by just 63 percent of respondents, while a full third said he harbored "unfriendly" sentiments toward the Jewish state.

Alternatively, 85 percent of American Israelis say the president has a "friendly" disposition toward the Muslim world.

Romney's image is likely burnished by his decades-old friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pair worked together at a consulting firm in Boston decades ago, and Romney has said the men almost speak "in shorthand" with one another.

But a spokesman for Democrats Abroad-Israel cast doubt on the poll's methodology, saying respondents seemed to skew disproportionately toward conservatives.

“This was a poll that apparently questioned most Republican voters, and does not accurately describe true voting preferences. In 2008, the voters polled [now] said that they voted for McCain 2 to 1 over Obama, although the actual vote was 78 percent to 21 in favor of President Obama," Sheldon Schorer told the paper.

“I believe that the upcoming election will show a similar strong showing for the president. Only those people who are irrevocably prejudiced against him will fail to recognize that President Obama has proven himself to be a strong friend of Israel and that Israel would benefit from his reelection.”