[x]

Two more factors. They're probably a younger ethnic group, with a lot of young unmarried professionals, the sort of people who strongly supported Obama last time. I don't know why they'd support him again, especially if they don't have jobs, but the younger the average age of an ethnic group in 2008 -- and again, this is a guess on my part -- the more likely they were to support Obama.

The other factor: if you think of yourself as a newcomer, you aren't going to make waves. You're going to try to fit in if you can. Indian-Americans in my area who registered as Republicans in the Bush years are registered as Democrats now. Maybe it goes back to the politics of developing or newly independent countries where people get behind the one big governing party -- the Congress Party in India -- so as not to be left out or antagonize the forces that be.

[ravager]

Most young Indians you see out there are overseas student on students visas or guest workers on work permit visas. They aren't eligible to vote, so it doesn't even matter if they are Republican or Democrat. Most young Indian Americans who ARE eligible to vote (are usually born and raised in US) come from affluent families, they go to IVY league schools or Liberal Arts colleges which tend to be democrat strongholds. They usually grow up (on East or West coast) and tend to socialize with kids from immigrant parents from countries. So these kids are born and raised democrats and are NEVER likely to vote Republican.

Among 1st gen immigrant Indians who are naturalized citizens there is a huge stereotype about the Christian Conservatives from the Bible belt. Even though they may actually agree on lower taxes, less regulation, smaller government, less spending and free market capitalism..... the whole Christian agenda, anti-science/evolution, anti-immigration is more then enough to drive them away.

And lastly, to be honest Conservatives themselves haven't really done a good job of trying to attract any of the like-minded and ideal immigrant communities. They never tried to build bridges or form alliances. They have mostly given out an appearance of being unfriendly, insular and anti-diversity. The fact that Democrats have quite actively and calculatedly projected a sham appearance of tolerance and acceptance of diversity is quite enough to lure all the Indian Americans to their camp.