Indian-Americans Enter 2010 Race

An encouraging development in American politics: At least eight Indian-Americans are running for Congress or statewide office in November—the most ever, according to the Associated Press. The most high-profile has been South Carolina’s gubernatorial hopeful, Nikki Haley, but there are six Indian-American candidates this year for Congress--up from just one in 2008. Only two Indian-Americans have ever been elected to Congress: Dalip Singh Saund in 1956 and Bobby Jindal in 2004. Of course, not everyone is happy about this development: South Carolina conservatives are challenging Haley for her Sikh faith, which she practices alongside Christianity. State Senator Jake Knotts, who called Haley and President Obama “ragheads,” asked a local news station, "Have you ever asked her if she believes in Jesus Christ as her lord and savior and that he died on the cross for her sins? Have you ever asked her that?"