The National Jewish Democratic Council, encouraged by Virginia going Blue in the 2008 presidential election for the first time since 1964, decided to join the Democratic Party's efforts in Virginia in support of gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds by mobilizing the commonwealth's Jewish vote - especially the student Jewish vote.
"Many students were very involved and energized by the 2008 election and they were a big reason why Virginia voted Democrat," NJDC Political Director Linda Berg said.
Deeds is concerned with issues of women's rights and voter awareness and education, giving Virginia's 50,000 Jewish voters reason to support him, Berg said.
"Jewish voters are extremely concerned with civil rights, civil liberties and a woman's right to choose," she said. "In a close race, 50,000 votes can make a huge difference."
Not only is Deeds vested in the same social justice issues as the Jewish community, Berg said, but he has also visited Israel and "wants to improve [trade] relations between Virginia and Israel."
In off-year elections, however, many students may not be aware an election is taking place, so they may not register to vote through absentee ballot or in the district in which their college campus is located, Berg said.
"Off-year elections become very important to politics as a whole," Berg said. "These elections coming up [the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey], will be seen as reflective of the state of national politics as a whole."
Fourth-year College student Melissa Zinder was chosen by NJDC as a liaison between the council and the University to lead efforts to mobilize the University's Jewish vote. Although few steps have been taken thus far, Zinder said, grassroots efforts such as fliering for Deeds have begun.
Zinder recently attended the Jewish Liaison Campaigning Conference, coordinated by the Council, which serves to educate students on how to campaign for candidates on behalf of the Jewish community.
"We were taught to focus on progressive issues that apply to the Jewish community, such as transportation, education, etc.," Zinder said, adding that they were encouraged to not explicitly cite Judaism to motivate people about issues.
As of Oct. 12, a Rasmussen Reports poll showed Republican candidate Bob McDonnell leading Deeds by seven points.
-Bethel Habte contributed to this story
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