Obama most popular Democratic presidential candidate among Arab-Americans, poll shows

Obama most popular Democratic presidential candidate among Arab-Americans, poll shows: "Among Arab-American Muslims, Sen. Obama%u2019s support jumped to 50%, while Sen. Clinton got 38%."
Obama most popular Democratic presidential candidate among Arab-Americans, poll shows

June 29, 2007
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is the most popular Democratic presidential candidate among Arab-Americans, especially those who are Muslim, according to a new poll released this week.
Thirty-seven percent of the Arab-American Democrats or Independents who were polled said they would vote for Sen. Obama in a primary, while U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton got 33%. John Edwards got 12%, and Bill Richardson, 10%.
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Among Arab-American Muslims, Sen. Obama’s support jumped to 50%, while Sen. Clinton got 38%.

The nationwide poll was conducted by Zogby International and was released by the Arab American Institute on Thursday. They polled 501 Arab-Americans across the country from May 22 to May 26, asking them 38 questions. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

The biggest issue for Arab-Americans is the Iraq war, with 61% of them saying it’s a top concern, according to the poll.

“It’s somewhat more important for them than the general public,” said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute.

The poll also shows that almost eight in 10 Arab-Americans rate President Bush’s job performance negatively.

Zogby said the poll also shows that Arab-American Republicans are turning away from their party.

Over half of the Republican Arab-Americans polled, 53%, said they would vote either Democrat, or that it would depend on the candidate.

Among Republican candidates, Rudy Giuliani got 32% of support among Arab-American Republicans or Independents, with Sen. John McCain at 28%, and Mitt Romney at 16%.

Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at nwarikoo@freepress.com or 248-351-2998.