Election 2008: What’s At Stake?

Asian Americans make up the smallest racial group in the country, comprising about 5 percent (14.4 million) of the population. Yet they are the fastest growing sector, rising by 3 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With continuing immigration from Asia–especially China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea–and as Asian Americans become more politically engaged, how will they affect American politics?

The upcoming presidential election presents a valuable opportunity to understand how Asian Americans perceive the candidates and how they will vote as a group or as individuals. In the California primary, we know that Asian Americans backed Clinton 3-1, although it’s not clear why Clinton picked up the Asian vote and why Obama didn’t. There are very few polls–both national and local–on Asian Americans and political participation and a dearth of stories on Asian American voters.

However, extensive reporting on the ground from regions such as Southern California will help tell their stories. Later this month, I will report from Los Angeles for two weeks. By the end of July, I will complete a multimedia project that explores key aspects of the Asian American vote for News21.