India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Indian Americans made a huge impact in the Super Tuesday primaries especially in states that have a large concentration of the community, like New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California.

Going by the enthusiastic turn out of Indian Americans at the primaries, experts feel the community could have contributed to the swing vote in the critical states especially where Democratic Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ran neck-to-neck races.

New Jersey

Indian-Americans in New Jersey along with other Indian-Americans in states like Illinois, New York and California might just have contributed to determine the frontrunners for the presidential nominations on Super Tuesday, according to the US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC).

The presidential primary here traditionally was held in June, long after the primary races were more or less decided. But this year, it was moved up to Super Tuesday. Following Senator Clinton’s decisive victory in the New Jersey primaries, Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, a Delegate for Clinton, said, "I never doubted that Hillary Clinton would win the primaries in New Jersey."

"Senator Clinton is highly interested in South Asia and in continuing to improve relations between the United States and India. She has made several visits to South Asia and has many friends in our community," added.

"Clinton also has conducted significant outreach to the South Asian-American community." Clinton’s engagement with South Asian Americans is demonstrated in her selection of three Indian-American candidates as delegates from New Jersey - Upendra Chivukula, Prakash Shah, and Kiran Desai.

"The Indian-American community plays a vital role in shaping our Nation’s political landscape and here in New Jersey the community serves as a major force in helping to elect our governmental leaders," says Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ-1st ), a Member of the House Armed Services, Budget, and Education and Labor Committees.

"The Indian-American understands the importance of participating in the political process, especially this year given New Jersey’s significant relevance in helping to elect the Nation’s next President." Indian-Americans in New Jersey have a track record of being very politically aware and involved, and now they have the opportunity to be even more impactful.

"The Indian-American community in South Jersey continues to be a strong voice on the issues and a significant contributor to the diversity of the region," says Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ-2nd), a Member of the House India Caucus, and the House Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

"I’ve been proud to have a solid working relationship with the community and encourage their members, as well as all Americans, to participate in our democracy." Congressman Scott Garrett (R-NJ-5th), a Member of House Financial Services and Budget Committees, echoes the importance and the significant engagement of the Indian-American community in New Jersey.

"Indian-Americans are an important and vibrant part of the Garden State community. They have contributed much to the state’s economy, culture, and more. I’ve long enjoyed a good working relationship with New Jersey’s Indian-American community and I expect to continue to work closely with them to the benefit of all New Jersey residents."

Illinois

With one of the largest Indian-American populations, the unusually high level of excitement surrounding the Democratic presidential race in particular, and the 2008 Congressional season opening here, Illinois saw a record high turnout of Indian-American voters despite the less than pleasant weather.

Illinois Democratic leaders clearly wanted to help Barack Obama by pushing up the state’s traditional March election. Additionally, with three open Congressional seats, including a special election to fill the remainder of former Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert’s term, and a race to select a challenger to incumbent Senator Richard Durbin, the Illinois primaries will initiate some long, competitive general election races.

In Illinois, voters are focused on economic issues and Indian-Americans have important connections to the economy. "Indian-Americans are important participants in America’s economy and communities," says Congressman Donald A.

Manzullo (R-IL-16th), Member of the House India Caucus and the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. Given the important state of the American economy and fears of recession, Congressman Manzullo goes on to say, "I encourage Indian-Americans to join their neighbors and friends to help determine the direction of our country during these most critical of times."

There are other issues of great import to the Indian-American community as well as Jonathan Bedi, a Democratic candidate for District 5 of the Illinois State Senate, "The upcoming election will determine the outcome of the issues most important to our community including work visas, the erosion of our constitutional liberties, economic development, international trade and national security priorities. For this reason, Indian-Americans must make their voices heard."

Meanwhile, the US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) has endorsed its support to Bedi and Paul Chadha, a Democratic candidate for District 26 of the Illinois State House of Representatives," says Michael Taylor, Director of Government Affairs for USINPAC. "We hope the Indian-American community will come out and support these candidates for change."

Georgia

In Georgia, just ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries, former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich praised the grassroots involvement of the Indian-American community in Georgia and throughout the region.

"Today, when Americans are demanding real change from their elected leaders by addressing the many real challenges confronting our country, the Indian-American community is leading the effort by focusing on holding politicians accountable here in Georgia and throughout the South. Indian-Americans continue to make a significant contribution to our society and the community itself has grown dramatically in its political sophistication and involvement, and thus in making its voice heard clearly," said Speaker Gingrich.

Citing the important role in these developments played nationally and locally by the USINPAC the Speaker went on to say, "Organizations like USINPAC assist in furthering this most basic and important democratic discourse." The ongoing grassroots political efforts in Georgia have resulted in a political maturity thus allowing Indian-Americans to overcome the problems and hindrances to political action and awareness that previously dominated their community here.

By way of example, the overall effectiveness of these efforts is seen in how closely the great majority of the US Congressional delegation from Georgia vote along Indian and Indian-American interests. "The Indian-American community continues to have a growing influence on the policies of this nation," said Tony Patel, a Democratic candidate for District 47 in the Georgia General Assembly.

"As physicians, educators, business owners and hardworking citizens, we must exercise our right to vote and have our voices heard on important issues such as educational excellence, affordable health care and responsible government which are to be debated throughout this election." Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane V. Kidd highlights that Georgia has a great deal of diversity of which Indian-Americans are an increasingly significant part, "Indian-Americans are an important and vibrant part of Georgia’s diverse population, and a voice that should be heard by our political leaders."

Silicon Valley

As Super Tuesday dawned, the more than 300,000 Indian-Americans who live and work in Silicon Valley were focused on deciding who would be the most business-friendly candidate for president. The most business-friendly candidate here is a "free trader" who believes that market forces are best and that outsourcing is not a "war against the [American] middle class" as CNN commentator Lou Dobbs would have one believe. There has been little battling amongst the candidates over the issue of outsourcing in part due to much larger domestic issues.

The leading presidential candidates going into Super Tuesday had said they favored allowing the global economy dictate the flow of jobs and business. Senators Clinton and Obama seek to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to strengthen enforcement of labor and environmental standards.

With such a close race this year, there is every indication that the aforementioned Silicon Valley voters will have greater influence than ever in California. "Indian-Americans like all Asian-Americans are poised to make an historic impact on Super Tuesday, especially in California where a fifth of the nominating convention delegates are being contested, and where Asian-American voters continue to trend Democratic," Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA-15th), Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Member of the House India Caucus and the House Appropriations Committee had said on the eve of the primaries.

The closeness of this race, especially on the Democratic side, and the fact that California has one of the highest concentrations of Indian-Americans only serve to magnify the community’s influence in this so important an election year.

"The Indian-American community has shown their dedication to issues that are important to them as individuals and as a community and I encourage all Americans to get involved in our electoral process," says Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA-44th), Member of the House India Caucus and the House Appropriations Committee.