POLITICO: “Donald Trump has worked for years to make inroads with Indian Americans in ways Republican presidential candidates never have -- recruiting volunteers at Indian grocery stores, holding events in five Indian languages and paying for targeted digital ads.”
These efforts have paid off: though only 16% of Indian Americans broke for Trump in 2016, Trump now commands approval from 28% of this crucial voting bloc.
Kamala Harris, who would be our country’s first Indian American vice president, has the potential to turn the tides -- but there’s still an ongoing debate about whether the distinguished senator, who is also Black, is “Indian enough.”
It’s an insulting question -- and reminds us of when pundits questioned if Barack Obama was “Black enough” in 2008. But it’s a question we’ll probably hear until election day. These divisions emphasize that Democrats need to be doing more direct voter outreach to the AAPI community -- and to all voters of color. If you agree that Democrats need to step up their communication to marginalized groups, help us send a message now:
