Texas Gov. Greg Abbott heads for India, hoping to woo investment and jobs

Gov. Abbott, knows and follows the injunction to 'hunt where the ducks are,'

AUSTIN, TX(TIP): There is a rising demographic force in North Texas — Indians, as in people from South Asia’s largest country.

It soon will be the earth’s most populous nation, home to one of about every six people.

In Dallas-Fort Worth as well as in the rest of Texas, political bloodhound Greg Abbott has the scent.

The Republican governor senses something big is happening and admits his nine-day jaunt to India that began Thursday is about far more than commerce.

The mostly well-educated, affluent Indians who have flocked in big numbers to upscale and in some cases downright ritzy suburbs of Dallas are breaking barriers, running for office and embracing assimilation into their adopted country.

Their participation in Texas communities is building a potential bloc of votes and political contributions that Abbott hopes to someday harvest.

“The Indian community in Texas is more Republican than the Republican Party in Texas,” Abbott said as he flew into Mumbai on a nine-day trade mission Friday.

“They are genuine economic conservatives. They strongly believe in the free enterprise system and a governmental structure that supports that. And they are very strongly pro-family and pro-military. They’re just very patriotic.”

Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said Abbott is eager to broaden his base of support.

“Most Texans, including Gov. Abbott, know and follow the injunction to ‘hunt where the ducks are,’ ” he said. “More and more of these ducks are South Asian, with professional educations and incomes, able to make political contributions and increasingly willing to step out as voters and candidates.”

Be the first to comment

The Indian Panorama - Best Indian American Newspaper in New York & Dallas - Comments