American Muslims and the 2008 Presidential Election
American Muslims and the 2008 Presidential Election
Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and other swing states that will determine the 2008 presidential election all have significant numbers of Muslim American voters.Often misunderstood by other Americans, these voters may play a pivotal role in the election. Will they turn out for Barack Obama to protest the Bush administration’s conduct of foreign policy and other issues, and to embrace Democratic social policies? Or will they agree with John McCain’s approach to international affairs, as well as with his stand on taxes and other domestic policies? On some hot-button cultural issues, might Muslim American voters even emerge as a strong ally of the Christian right?
Jen’nan Ghazal Read says U.S. Muslims are far too diverse to be characterized in such sweeping terms. She says they resemble other Americans in their socioeconomic status, with political beliefs that range from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal.
An associate professor of sociology and global health at Duke University, Read is an expert on Muslim American political assimilation.
With special support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Duke’s Office of News and Communications has created this website to serve as a resource for reporters and others who want to learn more about Muslim Americans and the 2008 election, drawing on the research of Professor Read and others.