US Elections: The Armenian Effect
Photo: Obama’s largest campaign rally in Denver, Colorado, on October 26, 2008
Today I took my Mom to a Lady’s Night at an Armenian friend’s house in Boulder, where in lieu of birthday presents the host had asked guests to donate to the Barack Obama campaign on her personalized page. Although not a citizen just yet, this was not the first time my Mom made a donation to the Obama campaign. In fact, proportionally speaking, she is perhaps a top Obama donor.
While sometimes it feels that to be part of the “real Armenian community” in the United States one needs to live in Southern California, actually right now Colorado is the Armenian-American political center – at least through Tuesday.
I learned from local Armenian-American volunteers for the Obama campaign that there are approximately 3,000 registered voters with “ian” and “yan” last names (the common ending of Armenian names) in Colorado, a swing state. This basically means that Armenian-Americans in Colorado could decide the U.S. elections.
Ani on 02 Nov 2008 at 6:25 pm #
Colorado–where Armenian votes actually count! 🙂
What’s fascinating is the poll in Turkey:
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=118183
[…]
Twenty-two percent of Turks polled by Gallup said they wanted to see Obama win the Nov. 4 presidential elections in the United States, while only 8 percent chose Republican contender John McCain. But 70 percent of Turks taking part in the poll either refused to answer the question or said they did not know, while in 67 countries out the 70 polled, the vast majority of people opted for Obama.
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I don’t know what this means for Turkish voters in the U.S.–have you seen any polls?
Aram on 02 Nov 2008 at 9:52 pm #
This is interesting. I read this kind of funny article at http://keghart.com/op128.htm that says Obama’s last name comes from Barackat – “God’s blessing”
Actually we use “Barakyat” in Hayastan!!
The word Barakat is not Armenian (I think it’s used by Arabs, Turks, and Persians), but we sometimes use it in Armenia for “good luck” or “blessing.” Maybe Obama will bring good luck to the United States, Armenia and the world?
The Stiletto on 03 Nov 2008 at 7:10 am #
As The Armenian Vote Goes, So Goes The Nation?
http://www.bloggernews.net/118447
Blogian on 03 Nov 2008 at 7:42 am #
Thanks for the link, “The Stiletto.” I updated the VwV post with your story: http://voiceswithoutvotes.org/2008/11/02/us-elections-the-armenia-effect/
Allan Jenkins on 03 Nov 2008 at 5:39 pm #
I assume she has a Green Card? Otherwise, it’s illegal for foreigners to make campaign donations. http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.shtml
Blogian on 03 Nov 2008 at 6:24 pm #
Allan, yes, she holds a green card.
Ani on 06 Nov 2008 at 2:09 am #
Congratulations on your Colorado efforts–in the end, quite a definitive win there for Obama, about the same margin as in Minnesota. Denver’s a good place for Armenians–high altitude, mountain backdrop, barbecue, lots to like, huh?