The Indian American (IA) Impact Fund, a leading national political organization championing the rights and interests of Indian and South Asian American communities, in partnership with Future Forward (FF) PAC, the Presidential SuperPAC, is launching a $3.5 million advertising campaign aimed at engaging South Asian and AAPI voters in support of Vice President Kamala Harris.
This campaign will run across various platforms, including television, digital media, and radio, targeting 1.3 million eligible AAPI voters, among them 400,000 South Asian voters. It will focus on key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia, continuing right up to Election Day, noted a statement from the IA Impact Fund.
This initiative marks the largest independent expenditure campaign aimed at AAPI voters in a presidential election. It will focus on crucial issues for these communities, including the economy, abortion rights, and support for caregivers, while also showcasing how Harris’s South Asian heritage influences these priorities.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented moment for South Asian and Asian Americans in U.S. politics,” said Executive Director of The Impact Fund, Chintan Patel. “For the first time, we have the opportunity to elect a South Asian president, whose policies will benefit all Americans and lead us on a new way forward.”
Patel underscored the partnership with FF PAC marks a groundbreaking investment in amplifying South Asian and AAPI voices at the ballot box. With Kamala Harris at the forefront, “we have a unique opportunity to make history,” he added.
“South Asian and Asian American voters are a key part of the coalition that will elect Kamala Harris,” said President of Future Forward, Chauncey McLean.
McLean emphasized that the 1.3 million voters in this crucial battleground will understand the significance of their choice. It’s a decision between Donald Trump’s vision of an economy that favors the wealthy, and Kamala Harris’s vision, which prioritizes economic security for working individuals, access to healthcare, and a stable retirement.
A recent poll commissioned by the IA Impact Fund reveals that South Asian voters in crucial battleground states show strong support for Harris, placing her well ahead of Donald Trump. This voter group, which could play a pivotal role in swing states, is particularly motivated to back Harris, as they believe she aligns closely with their top priorities for this election.
The survey, conducted by GBAO, sampled 600 likely South Asian general election voters across Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania from September 16-22, 2024, using phone and text-to-web methods.
Key findings from the survey indicate that Harris holds a substantial lead over Trump. Among South Asian voters in battleground states, Harris is ahead by 48 points, with 68 per cent supporting her, compared to 20 per cent for Trump. Four per cent of respondents are backing other candidates, while 7 per cent remain undecided.
The survey also identified other key issues, inflation and the economy were the most significant concerns, with 26 per cent of respondents prioritizing them. Abortion was a close second at 19 per cent, while foreign policy, gun control, and healthcare each received 9 – 12 per cent of voter attention.
“The electorate is firmly pro-choice,” it pointed out indicating that 76 per cent of South Asian voters believe that abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances, aligning closely with the stance of Harris on the issue. In contrast, only 16 per cent feel that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.
South Asian voters could be the “decisive factor” in determining outcomes in swing states, noted the survey. For Harris to win these battleground regions and make history as the first South Asian American president, targeted outreach to this community will be essential, it added.
