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Arab American Voters Support Kerry Nearly 2-1 Over Bush

LA Times
Posted on Sunday October 31, 2004

Arab American voters’ support of Sen. John Kerry has solidified as backing for independent candidate Ralph Nader has eroded, according to a poll released last week by the Arab American Institute.

The poll, which surveyed 500 Arab American registered voters in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, showed Kerry with 54 percent of their support, President Bush with 28 percent and Nader with 3.5 percent.

Nearly 15 percent of voters surveyed were undecided.

Kerry’s support among Arab Americans—he is favored over Bush by nearly 2-1—is his highest since the institute began the polls in February.

Nader, a Lebanese-American, at one point had 20 percent support among Arab American voters. He will not appear on the ballot in Ohio or Pennsylvania.

Nader’s “lower numbers are reflective of the fact that (Arab Americans) are beginning to make a choice,” said the Arab American Institute’s president James Zogby. The poll was conducted by his brother, pollster John Zogby.

Bush was once a favorite among Arab American voters, earning 45.5 percent of their vote four years ago, according to exit polls.

During that campaign, Bush courted Arab American leaders and promised a crackdown on racial profiling of the group.

But the aftermath of 9/11, the Iraq war and heightened scrutiny of Arab Americans under the Patriot Act have alienated Arab Americans and diminished Bush’s support among them.

“There is a shift, no doubt there is a shift,” Zogby said. “I’ve actually never seen anything quite like it.”

The Bush-Cheney re-election effort maintains that Arab Americans remain an important constituency.

“We were honored to have the support of Arab Americans and Muslim Americans in 2000, and we’re working very hard to maintain and build upon that support,” said campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel.

Numbering 1.2 million nationwide, according to census data, Arab Americans happen to live in several key swing states, including Michigan.

The institute estimates there are half a million likely Arab American voters combined in Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.