|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Ali Abdullahi WASHINGTON (Islam Online) - The race to the White House has become a very close one as the presidential election is approaching. There are about 12 states where "swing" votes of the electorate will prove to be very decisive.
What does that entail? What it means is that a few votes going to either candidate could help him capture the majority of votes in that state. These key states are Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In a recently published report, the Islamic Institute, an advocate organization for Muslims, strongly appeals to and urges the Muslim community and its leaders to take an active role by organizing and involving their communities in the presidential campaigns, as well as in the congressional campaigns. This is especially relevant for Muslims residing in swing states. The Institute is a membership-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, founded in 1998, and inspires and facilitates the development of grassroots Muslim political movements that are socially and economically conservative. The Muslim community can demonstrate the power of its critical vote by encouraging every registered Muslim voter to cast a ballot and become involved in the election. Registered Muslim voters can play a vital and important role, particularly in closely contested races, considering the fact that such races have been won in the past by very small margins, in many instances by a few hundred votes. A Newsweek poll on September 1st, showed Al Gore leading with 49% of the vote to George W. Bush's 39% - with Green Party nominee Ralph Nader receiving 3% and the Reform Party's Pat Buchanan 1%. Other polls show the two main contenders in a dead heat. Gore led Bush in Gallup's August 18-19 poll by 47% to 46%. But Bush regained the lead in an August 24-27 poll by a similar 46% to 45% margin. |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
