Asian American Survey - Virginia

Findings from a Survey of 700 Asian American Voters nationwide plus 100 each in FL, IL, NV, and VACelinda Lake, David Mermin, and Shilpa GroverLake Research PartnersWashington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NYLakeResearch.com202.776.9066

2

Methodology

• Lake Research Partners designed and conducted this telephone survey of 713 registered Asian American and Pacific Islander voters nationwide, with oversamples of 100 voters in Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and Virginia.

• Interviews were conducted April 5-15, 2012. Sampling error is +/- 3.7%. For Virginia, we conducted 117 interviews, with a margin of error of +/-9.1%.

• Telephone numbers for the survey were drawn randomly from voter files. The sample was stratified geographically by region based on the proportion of voters in each region. The data were weighted by gender, age, region, and race/ethnicity.

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Asian American voters in Virginia are a heavily immigrant population, with nearly 7 in 10 having been born outside the U.S.

• The Asian American voter population in Virginia features larger portions of Indians (23%), Korean (22%), and Vietnamese (17%) than the nation overall.

• They are more optimistic than Asian Americans overall about the country. 52% of Asian American voters in Virginia say we are heading in the right direction, while 46% say we are heading in the right direction nationwide.

• In Virginia, 54% of Asian American voters plan to vote for President Obama—a slightly lower figure than the 59% nationwide percentage. More than a quarter are undecided.– While both Obama and the Democratic Party are seen favorably overall by Asian Americans in Virginia, it should be noted

that nearly one-quarter either have no opinion or have never heard of Mitt Romney.– On the generic congressional ballot, nearly one-third of Asian American voters in Virginia are undecided, while just over

half (51%) favor the Democratic candidate (18% for the Republican).

• President Obama’s job approval rating among Asian American voters in Virginia is slightly lower than his approval rating in the nation overall. While Asian American voters nationally are split on Obama’s job performance (49% excellent/good, 49% just fair/poor), Asian American voters in Virginia are net negative by 7 points (46% excellent/good, 53% just fair/poor).

• In comparing the two parties, Asian American voters in Virginia favor the Democratic Party both on pocketbook issues (the economy, education, health care) and values (treating all Americans fairly) but are more divided on national security and the budget deficit. However, a significant number of Asian American voters in Virginia say there is no difference between parties or don’t know.

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Demographics of registered Asian American voters in VirginiaLanguage Spoken At Home:• Korean – 22% • Only English – 16%• Hindi – 15%• Vietnamese – 14%• Mandarin – 10%• Cantonese – 5%• Tagalog – 2%• Hmong – 2%• Other – 17%

Race:• Indian – 23% • Korean – 22%• Chinese – 19%• Vietnamese – 17%• Japanese – 3%• Filipino – 2%• Other – 9%

Gender:• Male – 49%• Female – 51%

Party Identification:• Democrat – 51%• Republican – 20%• Independent/Don’t know/

Refused – 28%

Voting Pattern:• Democratic – 49%• Republican – 20%• Independent/Don’t know/

Refused – 31%

Employment Status: • Employed full time – 68%• Employed part time – 4%• Unemployed – 9%• Retired – 12%• Homemaker – 5%

Marital Status:• Married – 72%• Single – 25%• Unmarried with partner – 2%• Separated/divorced – 1%• Widowed – 1%

Kids under 18:• Yes – 30%• No – 69%

Age:• Under 30 – 17%• 30-39 – 21%• 40-49 – 22%• 50-64 – 23%• 65 and over – 14%

Education:• HS or less – 20%• Some college – 24%• College graduate – 33%• Post-graduate – 19%

5

Five out of six Asian Americans in Virginia report being almost certain to vote this November. This is consistent with nationwide averages, signifying a potential for record turnout among the Asian American community this year.

85

13 1 0 1 0Almostcertain

Probably 50-50 Probably not Definitely not Don't know

Likelihood of Voting

Although it is some time from now, what are the chances of you voting in the election for President, Congress, and other offices this November – are you almost CERTAIN to vote, will you PROBABLY vote, are the chances about 50-50, are you probably NOT going to vote, or are you DEFINITELY not going to vote?

6

A majority of Asian American voters in Virginia were born outside the U.S. Of these voters, half immigrated as adults.

31

8

26 25

10

Child (0-12) Teenager(13-17)

Young Adult(18-29)

Adult (30+) Don't know

Age of Immigration to U.S.

Were you born in the United States or were you born in another country?If born in another country: How old were you when you moved to the United States?

Born in US; 31

Born in an-other

country; 69

7

Of those who were born in the U.S., nearly three-fourths of Asian Americans in Virginia have immigrant parents.

73

233

Born in another country Born in US Don't know

Parents Born in US or Another Country

Was either your mother or your father born in a country other than the United States?

*Asked among those who were born in the United States

8

7349

351615

301

Television

Internet and social media

Newspapers

Radio

Friends and family

Community organizations and leaders inmy community

None

Don't know

News Source for Politics in United States

While most Asian American voters in Virginia use TV as a news source, 49% use internet and social media. Newspapers are also used by over one-third of Asian Americans in Virginia.

Thinking about news, which of the following sources would you say you use to get news about politics in the United States?

9

80

4

16

Mostly in English

Mostly in another language

Equal mix of both

Language of News

One in five Asian Americans in Virginia say they consume at least some news in an Asian language.

And is the news you watch or read mostly in English, mostly in another language, or an equal mix of both?

How Asian Americans Feel About the United States

11

While Asian Americans in Virginia generally feel that things are going in the right direction for the country, a distinction exists between their feelings on the overall picture and for people like themselves.

Thinking about how things are going in the country, do you feel things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track? Thinking about how things are going in the country for people like you, do you feel things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?

52

3018

49 45

6

Right direction Wrong track Don't know Right direction Wrong track Don't know

Direction of Country

*Asked of half the sample

How things are going in the country* How things are going in the country for people like you*

+4+22

12

Like the general population, Asian Americans in Virginia have lukewarm to negative perceptions about the economy today.

5

23

48

23

1Excellent Good Just fair Poor Don't know

U.S. Economy

How would you rate how the U.S. economy is doing right now—would you say it is excellent, good, just fair, or poor?

13

46% of Asian Americans rate Obama’s job performance as excellent or good – slightly lower than the national figure of 49%.

Excellent Good Just fair Poor Don't know

11

35 38

15

1

President Obama's Job Performance

How would you rate the job being done by Barack Obama as President? Is he doing an excellent, good, just fair, or poor job?

46

Asian Americans and Their Political Attitudes

15

Both Obama and the Democratic Party are seen very favorably by Asian Americans in Virginia, at levels close to the nationwide average. Nearly one-quarter have no opinion of Mitt Romney.

Now I’d like to ask you about some people and organizations who have been mentioned in the news recently. For each, please tell me whether you have a VERY favorable, SOMEWHAT favorable, somewhat UNFAVORABLE, or VERY unfavorable impression. If you haven’t heard of them [6] , or if you don’t know enough about them to have an impression [5], just say so, and we will move on.

Net

-16

+4467

30

67

27

23

46

22

59

30

11

25

8

6

21

7

30

Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

The Democratic Party

The Republican Party

Favorability

+45

-32

Unfavorable Favorable

NO/NH

24

9

11

14

16

Asian Americans in Virginia favor Obama over Romney, with over half of the state’s Asian American population supporting the President, though more than a quarter are undecided.

Assuming Mitt Romney is the nominee for the Republican party, if the election for President was held today and the candidates were: President Barack Obama, Democrat and Former Governor Mitt Romney, Republican, for whom would you vote, or are you undecided?

54

2026

4012

Obama Romney Undecided

Presidential Ballot

+34

*Asked of 101 respondents. 16 received a similar question on Obama vs. Santorum before he dropped out.

17

A majority of Asian Americans in Virginia reports voting for Obama in 2008.

61

14 11 15

Obama McCain Neither/ other/ don'tremember/ refused

Didn't vote

2008 Vote

Thinking about past elections, did you get a chance to vote in the 2008 presidential election? If so, did you vote for Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain?

18

Similar to Asian Americans nationally, a majority of Asian American voters in Virginia plan to vote for the Democratic congressional candidate, while almost a third are undecided.

And if the election for U.S. Congress were held today, would you vote for: the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district, or are you undecided?

51

18

30

39

12Democratic candidate Republican candidate Undecided

Generic Congressional Ballot

+33

19

On education and health care, Asian Americans in Virginia say the Democratic Party is much better than the Republican Party. Democrats also have the advantage on sharing values, fair and equal treatment, and immigration. Interestingly, Asian Americans in Virginia rate the Democratic Party higher on issues than values. However, there are high percentages that see no difference between the parties or don’t know.

Now I’d like to ask you about some issues that might be important in the election. For each, please tell me whether you think the Democratic Party or the Republican Party is doing a better job with this issue, or is there is no difference. Do you feel the Democratic Party or the Republican Party is doing a better job with this issue? Is that a MUCH better job or SOMEWHAT?

No Diff/DK

24

23

28

31

38

57

58

55

55

44

20

18

17

14

18

39

38

32

32

25

8

9

11

8

12

Education

Health care

Sharing your values

Treating all Americans fairly and equally

Immigration

Which Party Doing Better JobRepublican Party Democratic Party

20

On foreign policy, taxes, national security and budget deficit issues, they are more divided but still favor the Democrats, though significant numbers of Asian Americans say there is no difference between the parties or don’t know.

Now I’d like to ask you about some issues that might be important in the election. For each, please tell me whether you think the Democratic Party or the Republican party is doing a better job with this issue, or if there is no difference. Do you feel the Democratic Party or the Republican Party is doing a better job with this issue? Is that a MUCH better job or SOMEWHAT?

No Diff/DK

54

39

40

35

34

20

23

26

26

29

28

24

23

23

22

8

11

13

12

12

Jobs and the economy

Foreign policy

Taxes

National security

The budget deficit

Which Party Doing Better Job

26

Republican Party Democratic Party

34

38

39

36

Engaging Asian Americans

22

Asian Americans in Virginia have been a largely untapped voting bloc, with 28% being contacted by the Democratic Party and 18% by the Republican Party in the past two years.

721 21

50

216 13

66

A greatdeal

Some A little Not atall

A greatdeal

Some A little Not atall

Been Contacted in the Past Two Years

Have you been contacted by the Democratic party/Republican party in the past two years a great deal, some, a little, or not at all?

By the Democratic Party By the Republican Party

28 18

23

Over half of Asian American voters in Virginia say they are more enthusiastic to vote this year than in previous elections, while one-fifth express less enthusiasm.

Compared to previous elections, would you say you are more enthusiastic about voting in 2012 than usual, or less enthusiastic than usual? [IF MORE OR LESS ENTHUSIASTIC: Is that much more/less enthusiastic or somewhat?]

52

21 22

26 9More enthusiastic Less enthusiastic Same

Enthusiasm for voting in 2012

+31

24

More than one in five Asian American respondents in Virginia who speak another language say they would be more likely to vote if they had in-language assistance.

For future elections, would in-language assistance make you more or less likely to vote in elections, or would it make no difference?

210

77

More likely Less likely No difference/ don't know

In-Language Assistance More/Less Likely to Vote*

*Asked of 104 respondents who took the survey in another language or say they speak another language at home

Asian Americans and their Potential Impact

26

In Virginia, if we experience similar turnout as 2008, we could see a 47,000 vote margin for Obama from the Asian American community. That said, over a quarter remain undecided, signaling opportunities for both parties.

Assuming Mitt Romney is the nominee for the Republican party, if the election for President was held today and the candidates were: President Barack Obama, Democrat and Former Governor Mitt Romney, Republican, for whom would you vote, or are you undecided?

54

20 2640

12Obama Romney Undecided

Presidential Ballot - Virginia

+34

*Asked of 117 respondents

136,000 Asian Americans voted in the November 2008 election of 3,753,000 total voters in Virginia.

Celinda Lakeclake@lakeresearch.com

David Mermindmermin@lakeresearch.com

Shilpa Groversgrover@lakeresearch.com

Washington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NYLakeResearch.com202.776.9066