Daily Kickoff
IOWA RESULTS, EXPLAINED: “The inside story of how Ted Cruz won Iowa” [WashPost] • “Ted Cruz’s conventional campaign to win Iowa” [CNN] • “How Cruz beat Trump” [Politico] • “How to Understand Donald Trump’s Defeat in Iowa” [TheUpshot] • “How Trump Did It” [PoliticoMag] • “How Sanders caught fire in Iowa and turned the Clinton coronation into a real race” [WashPost] • “How Hillary Clinton Survives the Iowa Disaster” [DailyBeast] • “How Iowa went wrong for Hillary Clinton” [Politico]
WINNERS CIRCLE: Cruz Senior Advisor Nick Muzin emails us… “No one should be surprised at tonight’s results. Ted worked tirelessly visiting all 99 counties, we had an incredible grassroots team and secured key endorsements from around the state. Iowans appreciated that Ted respected them and didn’t pander on ethanol. Ultimately the unknown was whether Trump’s celebrity would translate into votes. That question has now been answered conclusively. We saw record turnout in Iowa, and Trump’s people did come out, but ours came out in greater numbers and – at several caucus locations I visited – with greater enthusiasm.”
“The Jewish community played a key role in getting us to this point and we look forward to seeing more leaders coalesce around our campaign in the days ahead. We have an organization and team that is built to go the distance, we have more cash on hand than any other campaign, and we have proven that we can win. If you want to see a courageous, proven leader in the White House who will destroy ISIS, prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and stand unapologetically with Israel, now is the time to join our team.”
Democratic Strategist and former Clinton Advisor Ann Lewis emails… “Thank you Iowa! Hillary showed she could master the caucus system – and win the most delegates in a state whose demographics and ideology combined for an tough race. All good signs for what’s to come – primaries and general.”
Yoni Appelbaum: “Bernie Sanders isn’t the first Jewish candidate for president. He has been preceded by others, most recently Joe Lieberman. But by splitting the delegates from Iowa tonight, win or lose, he has already become the most successful Jewish candidate for the highest office in the United States. Mazal tov!” [TheAtlantic] • “Men on New York’s West Side Look a lot Like Bernie Sanders — or Larry David” [Forward]
Kosher in Des Moines: “Rabbi Yossi Jacobson kept himself busy on Monday serving kosher food with a side of Torah and Chassidic wisdom at Maccabee’s Kosher Deli, a project of Lubavitch of Iowa, to the many visitors from around the world who have been in town to cover the first election of 2016. A group of college students who are stumping for presidential Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton have been in town for a few weeks and coming to Shabbat meals at the Jacobson home. Several Orthodox Jewish supporters of Ben Carson held a campaign event at the deli on Sunday. Earlier in the campaign, staffers from the Bernie Sanders campaign got to enjoy a little taste of Chanukah when the candidate arranged for a delivery of potato pancakes from the deli during the Festival of Lights.” [Chabad]
Jacob Kornbluh on the ground in New Hampshire: “As John Sununu Jr. introduced the Ohio Governor to the more than 100 people gathered at a country club in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Kasich hung out in the back of the room, shaking hands with reporters and cracking jokes. As he took a gulp from a 16 oz cup of water, Kasich turned to this reporter and joked: “God, this is vodka! I thought this was water.” [JI]
Christie in Nashua, NH: “Iran will never get a nuclear weapon under my watch even if it means we need to use American military force to prevent it — never, ever, ever. Iran will also not get another meeting with the United States, let alone any further agreements, until they recognize Israel’s right to exist. What they need to publicly acknowledge is — the Supreme leader needs to acknowledge — that Israel has a right to exist.”
“Cruz or Rubio? After Close Iowa Vote, Battle for Jewish Support Will Intensify” by Allison Kaplan Sommer: “Rubio already gained the support of wealthy and influential Republican donors like Paul Singer, whose backing is as important as Adelson’s. Whether he will be able to add Sheldon and Miriam Adelson’s substantial resources to his war chest will have to be hashed out at the couple’s dinner table.” [Haaretz]
“Paul Singer, the GOP’s ‘Anti-Adelson’, Makes His Move” by Nathan Guttman: “Singer, in many ways, is the anti-Adelson. While the Las Vegas casino mogul is known for his blunt style, enormous contributions and single-issue pro-Israel agenda, Singer is described as calculated and methodical, mainstream in Republican terms, and with surprising liberal streaks lining his strong fiscal conservatism. He is also known for his caution in political giving. Moreover, Singer is anything but a single-issue donor.” [Forward]
SCENE LAST NIGHT: A diverse crowd of over 2,100 AIPAC activists gathered in the stately David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the pro-Israel organization’s annual Northeast Gala. The need for vigilance in the aftermath of the Iran deal, along with the Iowa Caucuses, dominated the off-the-record conversation. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), both of whom opposed the deal with Iran, addressed the group and were greeted with enthusiastic applause. In AIPAC’s typical — though otherwise unusual for the rest of the country — bipartisan manner, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Faith & Freedom Coalition Founder Ralph Reed shared the stage to discuss the 2016 race. Dr. Daniel Gordis, Vice President at Shalem College, delivered the keynote to close the event.
SPOTTED: Rep. Eliot Engel, Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, NYC Public Advocate Tish James, NYC Councilman David G. Greenfield, Robert and Louise Cohen, Howard Friedman, Elliot Brandt, Brian Shankman, Jay Haberman, Michael Sachs, Barry Mannis, Erika Liles, Phil Rosen, Tamar Remz, Stephen Greenberg, Joshua Landes, Daniel Mael, Michael Miller, Robert Gottheim, Maury Litwack, David Lobl, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Yaacov Behrman, Walter T. Mosley, Pinny Ringel, Dr. Michael Makovsky, Michael Kassen, Leon Goldenberg, Rabbi Meir & Layaliza Soloveichik, Henry Swieca, Ezra Mosseri.
IRAN DEAL: “Iran claims $100 billion now freed in major step as sanctions roll back” by Brian Murphy: “Iran announced Monday two financial milestones as the country emerges from under sanctions, saying it has access to more than $100 billion in previously frozen assets and has rejoined an important international banking network.” [WashPost]
ON THE HILL: “Tom Cotton’s New Law Would Allow A Product Made In Gaza To Be Labeled ‘Made in Israel'” by Jessica Schulberg: “Slamming what he characterized as a global effort to “delegitimize Israel,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a new bill on Monday that would reverse decades of U.S. policy and allow goods produced in the West Bank and Gaza to be labeled “Made in Israel” when they are sold in the U.S.” [HuffPost]
“Israeli cabinet minister attacks marriage of Hillary Clinton’s daughter” by Raf Sanchez: “An Israeli cabinet minister has attacked the marriage of Hillary Clinton’s daughter to a Jewish man as proof that liberal US Jews do not take their faith seriously. The comments by Yariv Levin, a Right-wing member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, are an unusually personal swipe at the family of the potential next president of the United States.” [Telegraph]
Opposition: “Grand Mufti condemns new Jewish egalitarian prayer section at Western Wall” by Khaled Abu Toameh: “The Palestinian Authority denounced on Monday an Israeli decision to expand the Jewish prayer section of the Western Wall to accommodate non-Orthodox and mixed gender services, as a further attempt to change the status quo at the Temple Mount.” [JPost]
BUSINESS BRIEFS: “Fischer Says Fed’s Next Decision Unclear Amid Global Uncertainty” [Bloomberg] • “Airbnb slammed for offering rooms with a view in Jewish settlements” [WashPost] • “Jewish Theological Seminary Taps Real Estate to Update Manhattan Campus” [WSJ] • “Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Brooklyn Headquarters for Sale: The sale of the group’s headquarters, along with two other properties owned by the Witnesses, has the potential to bring in $1 billion.” [NYTimes]
SPOTLIGHT: “After His Lululemon Trouble, Chip Wilson Tries Again” by Katherine Rosman: “Jewish Standard Time,” Mr. Wilson said in reply. “It’s showing you didn’t respect your friends’ time.” [NYTimes]
TALK OF THE TOWN: “Brooklyn senator could decide which party controls New York senate” by Kenneth Lovett: “Though a Democrat, Sen. Simcha Felder has caucused with the Republicans since taking office in 2013, helping them maintain their slim majority. But if the Democrats win an April 19 special election to fill the seat left vacant by the conviction of former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, it would give the Dems a numerical majority in the chamber. Whether they would ascend to power, however, would depend on Felder…” [DailyNews]
SPORTS BLINK: “The Lakers sign Make-A-Wish recipient Yitzi Teichman for one night, giving them a win” by Eric Pincus: “Yitzi Teichman, ceremonially signed to a one-day contract before the game, left the Lakers’ locker room with a bag full of his teammates’ sneakers, and an ear-to-ear grin. “I’ve got all the players’ gaming shoes. Kobe [Bryant] signed a ball. Kobe signed shoes,” said Teichman. “My room is going to look nice when I get home.” Teichman is a Valley Village native livng in Baltimore — and a teenager fighting brain cancer. He was brought to the Lakers by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.” [LATimes]
DESSERT: “Burger King Returns to Israel After Six-year Absence: After a six-year absence, Burger King is reopening in Israel. The first Burger King franchise since 2010 was scheduled to open Monday night in Tel Aviv. Fifty branches are expected to open in the next five years at an initial investment of about $12 million, the Israeli business newspaper Globes reported.” [Haaretz]
BIRTHDAYS: IAC Chairman Barry Diller turns 74… Bluelight Strategies’ Aaron Keyak… Times of Israel’s Rebecca Stoil Shimoni… Ross Gianfortune… Actress Marissa Winokur turns 43… Actress Naomi Grossman turns 41… The Food Network’s Ina Rosenberg Garten turns 68… Brookings’ Dan Arbell (yesterday)…
