Parties Ignoring Asian-Americans at Their Peril

Demographic could be pivotal in swing states: Atlantic
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted May 1, 2012 3:34 PM CDT
Parties Ignoring Asian-Americans at Their Peril
Mitt Romney speaks to a crowd during a campaign event in Warwick, RI.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

President Obama is currently way ahead among Asian-American voters, leading Mitt Romney by 59% to 13%. But that could easily change come November: Right now, 29% of Asian-Americans haven't formed an opinion on Mitt Romney, and about half rate President Obama's performance as fair or poor. And yet, neither candidate has done much to court "this potentially important but often overlooked demographic," writes Molly Ball at the Atlantic.

Only 23% of Asian-Americans say Democrats have contacted them in the past two years; 17% say Republicans have done so. The candidates would do well to take note, the survey suggests: Asian-Americans made up 2% of the vote in 2008, a figure that is likely to increase this year. What's more, Asian-Americans could cast the deciding votes in swing states such as Florida, Virginia, and Nevada, where the two candidates are polling more closely among the demographic. (More Mitt Romney 2012 stories.)

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