A local reporter's pool report from Obama's meeting "with about 75 leaders of the Philadelphia-area Jewish community at the Rodeph Shalom synagogue," via The Page.
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Before he got there, there were speeches by Eric Linn, his Middle East adviser; state Rep. Daylin Leach; Rep. Steve Rothman (D., N.J.); Rep. Robert Wexler (D., Fla.); and state Rep. Josh Shapiro. All of them offered assurances that Obama is a friend of Israel and the American Jewish community. Wexler made a point of saying "Sen. Obama unequivocally rejects the Palestinian right of return" - the idea that people who left during the creation of Israel should be allowed to come back - because he understands that Israel must remain a Jewish state.
You've seen the text of Obama's opening remarks. He talked for about ten minutes, then took questions. I'll go through the questions.
He was asked why he favors meeting with Iran but rejects the idea of President Carter meeting with Hamas. He answered that "Hama is not a state, Hamas is a terrorist organization...so I think here is a very clear distinction." Said his desire to meet directly with Iran is "practical."
He was asked whether he understand that some things the Israeli government does don't help the cause of peace. He said he understands that "Israeli will have to make some wrenching political decisions" if there is to be peace but that first Israel must know it has a partner on the other side that is capable of making commitments and carrying them out.
He was asked under what circumstances he'd use force against Iran. He wouldn't say.
He was asked about the future of Jerusalem. He said that was for the parties to decide but said "it is not an acceptable option" for the city to be partitioned as it was prior to 1967.
Would he continue to veto anti-Israeli resolutions at the UN? He said he would and that he would be "uniquely positioned" to do so due to his background. "That kind of blunt talk is something I can deliver with more credibility than some other presidents might."
Did he talk to Rev. Wright about the pastor's controversial remarks? Said he did so privately. Said that no one can find anything in his own background that shows anything but a love of country and an understanding of the importance of the relationship between blacks and Jews.
Did the Rev. Wright controversy undermine him as a general election candidate? Said he didn't think so.
He closed by saying that he thought that some of the discomfort people have about him has to do with "scurrilous emails," his middle name, and his race.
"My links to the Jewish community are not political. They preceded my entry into politics."
He talked about being influences by Jewish writers, philosophers and friends.
"There is a kinship and a sense of shared community that predates my political career and will extend beyond this particular election...Know that I will be there for you, just as I believe that you will be there for me."
The response was warm. Shapiro, a supporter, says that Obama has to get Jews to check the boxes of support for Israel and friend to the Jewish community so they can look at his positions on other issues. He said he thought Obama accomplished that yesterday.
One person who wasn't so happy was Nancy Gordon, of Haverford, who chairs the Philadelphia chapter of the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs, a Jewish organization. She's a Clinton supporter. She asked the first Rev. Wright question and said afterward: "I find it hard to believe that he (Obama) hadn't heard of Rev. Wright's remarks after Sept. 11." She said she was backing Hillary because "her commitment to the Jewish community has been steadfast and knowledgeable. His experience on these issues does not compare to hers. You could tell that this is not as much in his core as he says it is."