Presidential Candidates Vie for Indian-American Vote

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are competing for the desi vote, encouraged by a new study that shows that Indian-Americans are overwhelmingly Democratic.

The study, commissioned by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), found that 91 percent of Indian-Americans are Democrats and the remaining 9 percent are rich businessmen.

Sen. Obama made an appearance at a Washington, D.C., fundraiser organized by South Asians for Obama (SAFO), an event that was promoted as an ‘Obhangra.’

Not to be outdone, South Asians for Clinton (SAFC) raised money for the senator and former First Lady through a special ‘Clintondoori’ dinner.

Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, said the senator is very familiar with Indian-Americans, having stayed at a number of motels. “They’re friendly people,” Plouffe said. “And they do a nice job with the sheets.”

Plouffe said he couldn’t recall any particular conversation between a motel owner and the senator. “Mostly they just nod,” he said. “And sometimes they say, ‘No parties, okay?’”

Asked if the motel owners needed to brush up on their English, Plouffe shook his head vigorously and said, “No, no, no. Of course not. Senator Obama needs to brush up on his Hindu.”

Clinton’s campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, looked surprised when she heard that Plouffe had perpetuated the stereotype of Indian-Americans as motel owners. “Senator Clinton has met Indian-Americans everywhere,” she said. “Not just at motels, but also gas stations, 7-Elevens and Dunkin’ Donuts.”

She noted that in 2004, Clinton had joked that Mahatma Gandhi ran a gas station in St. Louis. “She sincerely apologized for that,” Doyle said. “She realizes that Indians sell more than just gas.”

Another presidential candidate, Sen. Joseph Biden, got in trouble last year when he said, “In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian-Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I am not joking.”

Biden has since apologized, saying he didn’t mean to leave motel and gas station owners out.