WASHINGTON: Several Members of Congress have sent letters to CNN and MSNBC to highlight the lack of coverage of the Asian American and Pacific Islander vote during the 2008 presidential campaigns. In the letter, Members of Congress said, "We are deeply concerned that the lack of coverage of Asian voters in the 2008 presidential race by media unfairly suppresses a growing and significant political constituency. We request a meeting to discuss these matters.

"Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up the fastest growing racial group in the United States. Nationwide, approximately 7 million Asian American and Pacific Islanders are eligible to vote, and close to 3.5million have registered to vote. "Nearly 3 million Asian American and Pacific Islander voters cast ballots in the last presidential election.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders currently make up more than 5 percent of the US population, and by 2050, the AAPI population is expected to grow 213 percent to 33.4 million. It is time that due attention is paid to this rapidly growing and politically relevant community." The letter said, "The 2008 Presidential primary cycle has already seen contests in states with significant Asian American and Pacific Islander populations, including: California, Nevada, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York. Media coverage and exit polling data of Asian voters has been resoundingly lacking.

In California, where Asian voters represented 8percent of the population polled by CNN, and exceeded the African American population by 1 percent, AAPI voters were nonetheless excluded in the exit polling analyses for the categories of "Vote by Age and Race," "Vote by Party and Race," and "Vote by Sex and Race."

This detailed analysis for the African American community, however, was provided when available. In other key states with large pockets of Asian American voters, such as New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Nevada, no data was provided at all." The letter stated, "Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are poised to play significant roles in the upcoming contests in Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Clearly, significant delegates remain at stake in this intensely close contest, and AAPI voters will turn out to cast their ballots.

Whether their voices will be heard in the political process will depend in large part on whether the media plays a part in recognizing or ignoring these voices." The letter concluded by requesting a meeting to discuss ways to improve coverage of the AAPI community. Among the signatories of the letter were Michael M. Honda, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Neil Abercrombie, Xavier Becerra, Member of Congress, Al Green and Mazie K. Hirono.