American Samoan voters won't be overlooked on Super Tuesday

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/01/american-samoan-voters-super-tuesday

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On Tuesday, 11 states and one territory will hold caucuses to determine the Democratic nominee. The territory is American Samoa, a tiny group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a population of 55,519 as of 2010. It is approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand and is the only inhabited US territory south of the equator. Despite their distance, the people of American Samoa will hold a presidential preference vote for 10 delegates.

We asked two American Samoans about what issues are important to them, and what they want candidates to know about their sometimes-overlooked home.

Patrick Ti’a Reid, 32: ‘We don’t have a big voice on the political stage’

I’m voting for Hillary Clinton. I feel like she’s the only candidate that’s actually been here. So the fact that she’s actually visited the island tells me that she’s more aware of the issues we’re facing as a territory. I think she has a better plan, she’s more experienced, she’s more qualified, and I think she’ll do a better job than any of the other candidates.

We don’t have a big voice on the political stage. Because we’re so remote, people are more concerned with what’s going on here on the island, I think, than with national issues. I also don’t think candidates are very aware of how impacted we are by some foreign policies because we have so many family members in the military.

I really like how the primaries are going on the Democratic side, but I think the other side is just crazy. I feel like I’m watching a reality show. It’s entertaining, but I don’t hear many discussions on many policies and plans. It’s just a lot of bickering. It’s more entertainment than discussions on their plans for the country. A lot of people [here] are turned off by Trump, that’s for sure, because we are a community of a lot of immigrants.

Uperesa Fakava, 19: ‘I would like to see up-close what they’re really doing’

I’m kind of leaning towards Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party.

My main priority is education because I’m going to college right now. I like his policies about education and the $15 dollar minimum wage for everyone. That’s my main priority because I’m working and going to school. I’m only working at a low level, like $6 an hour. A minimum wage policy would help me a lot.

I would like [the candidates] to know that the unemployment rate is so high here and most families live almost in poverty. Some families don’t even have electricity.

I’m always watching the news everyday and I have subscriptions to online newspapers so I’m always up to date on this kind of stuff but I would like to see up close what they’re really doing. People in New Hampshire get to meet all the candidates, I would really like to meet one of them – but since I’m here I only get to watch the news and subscribe to the newspapers and publishers.