Question to Kerry why aren't you reaching to Arab Americans?

[umtalal]

Outreach Works!
A new poll of American Jews from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) demonstrates the benefits of outreach to different communities. When asked whom they would vote for if the election were held today - President George W. Bush, Senator John Kerry, or Ralph Nader - just 24% of respondents favored President Bush, while 69% said they would vote for Kerry (3% chose Nader and 5% were unsure), showing a marked increase for Kerry and decrease for President Bush from a similar AJC poll from last year. Now, juxtapose the AJC numbers with the recent Arab American Institute/Zogby International poll of Arab Americans in key battleground states. As reported last week, the poll found that while Senator Kerry still holds a lead, President Bush has made inroads with the community and Senator Kerry's lead has been nearly cut in half (from 30% to 17%). According to the poll analysis, one of the reasons for this decline is the Kerry campaign's lack of outreach to Arab Americans. Contrast this with the Kerry campaign's prodigious efforts reaching out to the American Jewish community. Then look at the poll numbers again. It must be concluded that outreach works. So why not reach out to both American Jews and Arab Americans?

[mzmolly]

1. Last I heard Kerry has 75% of the Arab American vote.

For some reason, Bush still has 25%.

[George_Bonanza]

2. Arabs are an important electorate

They went for Bush in 2000, but they sure as hell regret that, and they can taken from the Bush column. But the Arab bloc is not as organized as the Jewish bloc, so that's probably why Kerry has overlooked them this election.

[umtalal]

3. From September 17 News Letter

Kerry Holds Lead Among Arab Americans, But Margin Nearly Halved
This week, the Arab American Institute (AAI) released the results of its fourth tracking poll of Arab American voters in the battleground states of Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The results show that President George W. Bush's post-convention surge is reflected among Arab Americans. While Senator John Kerry still holds a lead, it has nearly been cut in half (from 30% to 17%). Why? According to the analysis of the poll, while many Arab Americans remain dissatisfied with the Bush Administration, the Kerry campaign has thus far yet to take advantage of this dissatisfaction. At the same time, President Bush has been able to "capture" some uncommitted voters, especially "among Republicans who were still undecided." The analysis also points to the Kerry campaign's lack of outreach to Arab Americans and the still ill-defined perception of Senator Kerry and his positions as resulting in an "inability to gain ground with a constituency which" was "ready for a change." On the bright side for Senator Kerry, the poll also concludes that President Bush may have hit "his ceiling among Arab American voters," and that the "relatively high 20%" of Arab American voters who are either undecided or currently supporting other candidates could still go to the Democratic candidate.

[Toucano]

4. Before you complain that something isn't being done,

check to make sure it isn't being done. ;)

(I know you're trying to be constructive...it's just the deluge of suggestions that comes across as complaining)

From the Arab American Institute:

"And Arab Americans are making contributions to Senator Kerry's efforts not only in the campaign, but in his Senate office as well. James Shaer served Senator Kerry for over 16 years. He began as a volunteer for Kerry’s 1982 campaign for lieutenant governor. In Kerry’s Senate office, Shaer worked his way up from a mid-level staffer in to a senior advisor. Leigh O’Neill, another proud Arab American and granddaughter of the legendary Congressman and former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, serves in Kerry’s Senate office spearheading his Arab American outreach effort."

http://www.aaiusa.org/DNC_AA&Kerry.htm

[kentuck]

5. I saw a report from Detroit..

with one of the largest Arab-American communities, that Kerry was leading by about 87% to 11% or something very close to that...