Barack Obama remains a mystery to many New Jersey voters who are still uncertain where he stands on key issues, according to NORPAC, the Englewood-based pro-Israel political action group.

"Nobody knows that much about him, which is a big concern," said Ben Chouake, NORPAC’s president. "He’s an unknown."

After sweeping last week’s Iowa caucus, Obama came in second in this week’s New Hampshire primary following Hillary Clinton’s come-from-behind win. U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, who became the northeast coordinator for Obama’s campaign last year, said the senator has much to offer the Jewish and pro-Israel communities.

"Anyone who has any specific question about Sen. Obama’s pro-Israel credentials can look on his Website, review his past speeches to a variety of audiences, look at his voting record in the Senate, speak to members of the Illinois Jewish community, and speak to those of us in the New Jersey Jewish community who have come to know Sen. Obama well," Rothman said.

He acknowledged that rumors, mostly on the Internet, have painted Obama as sympathizing with Islamic extremists and questioned his religious background. This is far from the truth, Rothman said.

"Sen. Obama believes that Israel is now and should always remain a Jewish state and has said so in many different forms to many different audiences, not all of whom wanted to hear that. Secondly, he is committed to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge, not only because it will protect the precious Jewish state that he feels so close to but also because he knows that Israel is America’s most important ally in the Middle East by far."

Still, Chouake is taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the freshman senator. He also wishes that Obama had more experience on the national level.

But the senator’s performance in Iowa and New Hampshire has removed any doubts about the candidate’s abilities, Rothman said.

"Three months ago, no one would have believed that today Sen. Obama would have in effect eliminated five of six other contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, leaving just himself and the former first lady," he said. "That is an extraordinary accomplishment."