Group Debates Merits of Next US President

McCain (L) and Obama (R).

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington 07 July 2008

Cambodian-Americans in Virginia and Maryland have different political stances in supporting presidential hopefuls senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

"We want the US to help Cambodians with humanitarianism and trade," said Tom Keo, a Virginia businessman who favors McCain, a Republican, for his experience.

Tung Yap, president of the group Cambodian-Americans for Human Rights and Democracy, said he supported Obama, the Democratic hopeful.

"For me, I want to see a new leader, like other Americans who do not want to see the same leaders weaken the economy," he said.

Virginia resident Mok Yorn said he supported McCain, "as he has more experience, and helped fight communists a lot, even in Cambodia."

Washington area businessman Chamroeun Muoy, who supports McCain, said Obama has a lot of support by the young, while McCain has a lot of support from those over the age of 30.

"A win or loss for McCain depends on how he can explain economics to," Chamroeun Muoy said.