Asian Americans overwhelmingly backed Obama, Democrats

[ellisonz]

By Kim Geiger
November 8, 2012, 2:34 p.m.

Much has been made of the Latino vote and its crucial role in boosting President Obama to victory, but it was Asian Americans who made the most dramatic shift in support for the president Tuesday.

Exit polls show that 73% of Asian Americans backed Obama, an 11-point increase since 2008. Asian Americans came out in such force for Obama that they topped Latinos as his second-most supportive ethnic group, behind African Americans.

Latinos, who made up 10% of the electorate, went 67% for Obama, 5 points higher than in 2008.

While Asians accounted for just 3% of the electorate – up from 2% in 2008 – their overwhelming support made them a key component of the Obama coalition, especially in swing states like Virginia, Florida and Colorado.

More: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-asian-americans-obama-election-20121108,0,2086805.story

[AsahinaKimi]

1. We are always forgotten when they do polls like this..

I have seen polls where they listed; Blacks, Whites, Latino, Women, Men, and for some reason they always forget the Asians...I am not sure why this is.. but its frustrating as heck, sometimes.

[ellisonz]

2. I would say it's mostly a problem of sample size.

Similar polling problems exist with the Jewish community: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1223416

[OceanEcosystem]

5. I noticed that too.

It seems that Asian-Americans have been relatively invisible in US politics. That may change in the years to come.

[Jamaal510]

6. I'm black, but it has always baffled me

why the Asian support towards the Democratic Party is rarely mentioned in the media. I made a thread on this a few months ago, but whenever the MSM mention demographic trends and topics related to voting, they mostly only mention us and Latinos when it comes to ethnic minority groups. Never Asians (or Native Americans). It's almost as if news pundits are unaware that there are Asians and Native Americans living in America, too. Even on supposedly-progressive MSNBC, whenever they discuss racial issues in America, they rarely mention Asians.

[AsahinaKimi]

7. yeah...

Seems that way.. maybe they don't think we count as Americans.

[mainer]

3. Asians have the money, the education, and growing numbers.

But the GOP treats them like dirty illegal immigrants. So of course Asians are going to turn to the Democratic party. What did Republicans THINK would happen?

The future looks worse and worse for the GOP if they continue to stomp on the very people who could open their checkbooks and donate to the party that stands behind them.

[davidpdx]

4. Minorities have become an important part of elections

If the Republicans don't get their shit together they are going to be extinct (which would be fine by me). The OP said there was only a small increase in the number of Asian-Americans that voted. I'd bet that will by 2016 it will be at least 5% probably more.