Jewish support for President Obama has improved significantly in the last year and a half, according to a new survey by the American Jewish Committee .
Release Monday, the poll shows 61 percent of Jews would vote for Obama, as opposed to 28 percent for Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
In September, an AJC survey showed President Obama scoring 50 percent of votes, with Romney earning 32 percent.
However, exit polls in 2008 showed Obama winning 78 percent of Jewish votes.
In the latest AJC poll, respondents listed the economy and health care as the most important campaign issues.
Respondents also supported Obama’s treatment of Israel, with 58 percent approving of his management of the US-Israel relationship, up a whopping 18 percent since last September.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also took a leap in approval for his handling of the US-Israel relationship – up to 70 percent from 54 percent in September.
An overwhelming majority – 89% – of AJC poll respondents expressed concern over Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, with 64 percent saying the US should conduct a military strike if all other alternatives fail to thwart Iranian nuclear progress.
The online poll took place March 14-27 and surveyed 1,074 respondents who identified themselves as Jewish. It had a margin of error of 4.8 percentage points.