A recent Pew Research survey found that Asian-Americans are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the US.

The country has nearly 18 million people of Asian origin, or 5.8 percent of its population, according to the federal census. Chinese is the largest Asian-American group, with about 4 million people.

By 2050, this group is expected to make up 9.7 percent of the US population, with more than 40 million people.

President Barack Obama and his challenger Mitt Romney are now locked in a very close match, according to the latest major national polls released on Wednesday. The Asian-American vote has become increasingly important in the race for the White House, especially in swing states such as Virginia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Florida.

"The Asian-American vote is particularly crucial in Virginia," said Haipei Shue, president of the National Council of Chinese Americans.

Asian-Americans make up about 7 percent of Virginia's population, and most of them work in federal government agencies and high-tech industries. "This demographic feature means that they are more likely to vote for President Obama," he said.

About half of Asian-Americans identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, while 28 percent identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, according to the Pew Research Center.

Questions:

1. When is Election Day in the US?

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