Israel Matzav

Will it be Cantor?

According to a report in the Politico, Republican Presidential nominee John Sidney McCain is vetting Virginia Republican Representative Eric Cantor as a possible running mate (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

Cantor, 45, has provided records to the running-mate search team of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the adviser said.

With a Southern lilt and that belies his talent for raw politics, Cantor is one of the nation’s most prominent Jewish Republicans, and has impressed the McCain team by becoming a prolific fund-raiser for the campaign.

A young fiscal conservative who could help keep Virginia from tipping blue, Cantor could also be an asset in such battlegrounds as Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He has shown appeal to the party's base as well as to independents, and would be an unconventional choice at a time when McCain is looking to add excitement to his campaign.

"McCain needs to do something different," said Chris LaCivita, a top Virginia Republican strategist. Citing his youth, ties to the business community, strong relationship with conservative activists and proven ability to raise money, LaCivita said Cantor "fits all the bills."

The commonwealth, which has been reliably Republican in presidential races, has become more Democratic, making it a top target for Obama and a huge concern for McCain.

Cantor, who lives in suburban Richmond, would bring to the ticket a photogenic family and a track record of raising prodigious amounts of money from his own national network. On weekends, he travels constantly on behalf of Republican House candidates and the national party

Known on Capitol Hill as squeaky clean, Cantor has successfully campaigned and raised money in key states like Missouri, New Jersey and New York.

Mark Warner, the former Virginia governor and now Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia, has said that Cantor was his toughest potential opponent. Cantor decided to stay in the House to continue rising the leadership ladder.

Cantor, the Chairman of the GOP's Jewish Victory Coalition, would certainly be good news for Israel. He has been in the forefront of those fighting claims that support for Israel is forced on Congress by the 'Israel lobby,' he has introduced legislation in Congress condemning Muslim destruction of the Temple Mount. This is from Wikipedia (link above):

Cantor is a supporter of strong US-Israel, cosponsoring legislation that would cut off all U.S. taxpayer aid to the Palestinian Authority and another bill calling for an end to taxpayer aid to the Palestinians until they stop unauthorized excavations on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Responding to a claim by the State Department that the United States provides no "direct" aid to the Palestinian Authority, Cantor stated that United States sends about $75 million in aid annually to the Palestinian Authority, which is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Cantor also stated that Congress approved a three-year package of $400 million in aid for the Palestinian Authority in 2000. Cantor's cousin, Daniel Cantor Wultz, died as the result of a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv which was carried out by Islamic Jihad on April 17, 2006.

Wikipedia also notes that Cantor maintains a Kosher home.

Sounds good to me!

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:29 AM