how would a jewish democrat do in a presidential election?

[freepcrusher]

We've already had a catholic candidate (1928 1960 2004) and a black candidate (2008) so I'm wondering what it would be like with a jewish candidate. How would someone like Charles Schumer do if he won the presidential nomination? Would parts of the country swing against him or would anyone objecting to him because of his religious background not vote for him to begin with?

[Mr.Phips]

We've already had a catholic candidate (1928 1960 2004) and a black candidate (2008) so I'm wondering what it would be like with a jewish candidate. How would someone like Charles Schumer do if he won the presidential nomination? Would parts of the country swing against him or would anyone objecting to him because of his religious background not vote for him to begin with?

He might underpeform slightly with African Americans.  Historically, there has been kind of a strange friction between Jews and African Americans. 

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

A minor boost in the Northeast, a negligible loss outside the Northeast. We do have something like 15 Jewish senators, so it isn't too big a problem.

[TDAS04]

Assuming ideological similarity, not too much different than a mainline Protestant or Roman Catholic Democrat.  He might do a tiny bit worse, but not much.  A Jewish Democratic candidate would have an easier time than a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, etc..

He would have no trouble winning the coasts.  Probably wouldn't do very well in the South, but the South is tough for any progressive Democrat anyway.

[Indy Texas]

A relatively poor performance would be less because they were Jewish and more because Jewish Democrats tend to be a little too much to the left of the mainstream.