"Ron Paul was rejected because of his consistent voting record against U.S. assistance to Israel and his criticism of the pro-Israel lobby."

GOP hopefuls want Bush Jews Ron Kampeas

Each of the leading GOP presidential candidates to some degree has run away from the Bush legacy. But this week they will be making their case before one of the president's most loyal constituencies: Republican Jews.

The Republican Jewish Coalition on Tuesday is hosting a forum in Washington for presidential hopefuls. Six of the party's nine candidates were invited, and five will attend: former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, and current U.S. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Sam Brownback of Kansas.

Matt Brooks, the RJC's executive director, said he expects "defining" speeches in terms of foreign policy.

"The emphasis clearly is going to be on foreign policy," Brooks said. "And a number of them are planning to make their more defining foreign policy speeches. They'll be putting together snippets they’ve said before but tying it up to one foreign policy."

Brooks says the candidates are conscious that more than the RJC members in the room will be watching.

"They'll be watched nationally by primary voters, and internationally leaders will be watching, considering some of the challenges that will face the next president," he said. "They look at these things and parse very closely the words the candidates say."

The RJC event comes at a time when the president's approval ratings are perpetually hovering around 30 percent and many Republican constituencies, lawmakers and candidates are walking away from the Bush White House. Many leading Republican Jews, meanwhile, remain fiercely loyal to the president and to the most hawkish elements of his foreign policy agenda.