Small Business Turns Out on Sup...( Owners and employees agree that t...),Health

Owners and employees agree that the rising cost of healthcare is a defining issue

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Post-primary polling shows small-business owners and their employees are a significant voting segment equal to, and larger than, well-established voting blocs like veterans and union members.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's leading small-business advocacy association, conducted one national survey and six state-specific surveys on Tuesday, polling Democrats in California, Missouri and Arizona, and Republicans in California, Missouri and Georgia. Not only did the results illustrate this voting bloc's significant presence, it showed healthcare to be one of the most important issues to small businesses.

Polling data from the four states show the impressive strength and bandwidth of small-business owners and their employees:

-- In California, small-business owners and employees made up 28 percent of the Democrats who voted on Super Tuesday, versus union members who were 24 percent.

-- In Missouri, small-business owners and employees comprised 32 percent of the Republicans who voted, versus 21 percent who were veterans. On the democrat side in

Missouri, small-business owners and employees were 28 percent, versus 16 percent who were union members.

-- In Georgia, small-business owners and employees were 38 percent of the Republicans who voted, versus 19 percent who were veterans.

-- In Arizona, small-business owners and employees made up 31 percent of the Democrats who voted, versus 13 percent who were union members.

"More than ever before, small-business men and women made up a significant voting bloc on Super Tuesday. It is clear they are a voting segment that should receive the same attention from candidates as other groups, including veterans and union members," said Todd Stottlemyer, NFIB president and CEO.

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