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Florida Arab Americans Meet with Bush, Kerry

Posted on Friday March 19, 2004

Washington- Since the February launch of the Florida Arab American Leadership Council (ALC-FL), Arab Americans in the Sunshine State have met with both presidential candidates and have registered over 600 new Arab American voters for the general election. In the coming months, ALC-Fl will host voter education workshops in Orlando, Miami, Daytona, Jacksonville, and Tampa.

Arab American Republicans will join President Bush in Orlando on Saturday, March 20, for his first campaign rally of the 2004 presidential election. Ashraf Ansara is one of several AAI members who will join the President on stage at the rally. “I’m taking my children with me so that they can meet the President and learn more about the election process. Our community is depending on the young generation to make a difference in this country. It is my responsibility to engage my children in the democratic process,” said Ansara. Arab American Republicans have recently sponsored fundraisers and receptions for candidates for local office and will continue to raise funds and support for the President’s reelection in the upcoming months.

Orlando community leader Taleb Salhab met with Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry during his recent visit to Florida leading up to the state’s primary. “In my meeting with the Senator, I brought up several issues that are pivotal to our community. On the Patriot Act, Kerry was very well versed and pledged to make civil liberties a central theme of the election. Not only did he demonstrate an understanding of our concerns but he was able to cite specific incidents of Arab American profiling. When I outlined our efforts to mobilize Arab Americans across the state, the Senator was encouraging and seemed impressed,” said Salhab.

In addition to the presidential election, both parties will be fighting for Floridian votes in the race to fill the Senate seat vacated by Senator Bob Graham. The ALC-Fl will meet this month with two of the Democrats vying for the nomination. Republican ALC members have already sponsored a fundraiser for GOP candidate Mel Martinez. “Our activities cover the whole state and we’re involved at every level-national, state, and local. The community’s reaction to our efforts has been positive and momentum continues to build. We’ve registered hundreds of first-time voters who are eager to become part of the democratic process,” said Janan Al-Awar Smither, a leading member of the ALC-FL.

In a recent Zogby International tracking poll of Arab Americans in key states, 54% of likely Arab American voters in Florida indicated support for Senator Kerry while 31% backed President Bush. The entrance of Independent Ralph Nader- who receives support from 14% of Arab American Floridians- into the race significantly cuts Kerry’s lead over Bush to 47% to 30%.

“Our community is gearing up to play a decisive role in the upcoming election,” said AAI President Dr. James Zogby. “We’re mobilizing in battleground states such as Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania where the Arab American vote can make a real difference. This community has become a respected part of the American political landscape and the candidates are listening to our concerns,” said AAI President James Zogby.

Florida is home to over 255,000 Arab Americans and an estimated 120,000 likely voters. These voters live in 59 of the state’s 67 counties with significant concentrations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, and Duval counties. For more information on AAI’s Florida efforts, visit www.aaiusa.org/florida.htm