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Immigration Policy Center Analysis Ties in the Asian Vote

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Asian voter registrationThe Immigration Policy Center has produced a new “Electoral Landscape” analysis that ties together data on Latino, Asian, and immigrant voters, the failure of immigration as a wedge issue, and what the future holds for immigration reform.

While we’ve been reporting on the emergent power of the Latino vote for months now, here is how the Asian vote played out, according to the latest IPC analysis:

  • CNN exit polls indicate that Obama defeated McCain by 67% to 31% among Latino voters, and 62% to 35% among Asian voters. This represents a pronounced decline in support for the Republican Party since 2004, when George W. Bush won 44% of the Latino vote and 44% of the Asian vote.

  • According to exit polling in Los Angeles by Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Obama won the Asian American vote by 68% to 30%. Moreover, 24% of Asian American Republicans crossed party lines to support Obama, and 62% of unaffiliated Asian Americans voted for Obama.

  • According to exit polling in Chicago by the Asian American Institute, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, 91% of Latino voters and 81% of Asian voters supported Obama. 70% of Latino voters and 46% of Asian voters said the Republican Party is “not favorable” to immigrants

IPC’s report concluded:

Latino, Asian, and New American voter turnout was at an all-time high in 2008. The power of these voters is now undeniable, and immigrant-bashing has become a losing campaign strategy. All signs indicate that the incoming administration and Congress will tackle immigration reform, and that the leadership of the Republican Party is rethinking its position on the issue.