WASHINGTON, Nov 13: Barack Obama attracted great support from Jewish voters in his run for the US presidency despite the controversy surrounding the Democrat’s alleged links with Islam, according to political analysts.

Exit polls from the Nov 4 election indicate that 78 per cent of Jewish voters chose Obama over his rival John McCain.

The overwhelming support for Obama, if confirmed by further data, is an increase over Jewish support for Democrat John Kerry in 2004 (74 per cent), and almost equal to Jewish support for Democrats Al Gore in 2000 and Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 (79 per cent).

“It is a surprising result,” said Jacques Berlinerblau, an associate professor of Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University in Washington.

“Jewish voters have appeared to vote more Republican in recent years, but Obama has reversed the trend,” he said.

The result is even more pronounced when examined alongside the pre-election polling — in early July Jewish voters opted for Obama by only 60 per cent.

During the Democratic primary season in early 2008, Obama’s challenger Hillary Clinton attracted far more votes from the demographic.

Since July Obama succeeded in making in-roads with Jewish voters, making a much publicised trip to Israel and promising “unwavering” support for the Jewish state.—AFP