Democrats dogged to get Asian vote

Boasting of the "most inclusive" party blueprint, Democrats promises range from combating racial profiling to making colleges affordable.

As the race to the White House heats up, Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry is moving aggressively to win the hearts of minority Asian Americans while keeping his foreign policy on Asia vague.

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The Asian vote may turn crucial for both Kerry and incumbent George W Bush in what is likely to be a tight race although foreign policy on the region has not been a central feature of the presidential campaign.

The Democrats are sending the biggest Asian American delegation to their national convention in Boston which kicked off yesterday that would officially nominate Kerry as the party's candidate in the November polls.

This year's 211 participants from the Asia-Pacific American community represents nearly four per cent of total delegates, up from three per cent at the 2000 convention, party officials said.

The Asia-Pacific Americans make up 40 per cent of minority delegates at the convention.

The Democrats are also boasting that the party's blueprint to be endorsed at the convention is the "most inclusive" in American history as it outlines "positive" recommendations on issues relevant to the Asian American community.

The promises range from combating racial profiling, eliminating barriers to quality health care and from helping small businesses succeed to establishing a more effective process to citizenship and making colleges affordable.