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Small Biz Still Showing Big Support for Bush

 

Sept. 27, 2004 -- Both President George W. Bush and Democratic presidential challenger Senator John Kerry have attempted to lay claim to the small business vote during their campaigns. But according to a new survey, it appears Bush has that demographic wrapped up.

In its quarterly survey of chief executives of small and mid-sized businesses, TEC International, a CEO group, found that almost two-thirds of the more than 1,450 respondents said they would vote for Bush if the election were held today, while 22% threw their support behind Kerry.

The survey also broke out responses from 250 respondents in the swing states of Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, where 77% supported Bush and only 21% planned on voting for Kerry.

When asked about which candidate's stance on specific issues is better for small and mid-sized businesses, Bush received 70% or more support on several platforms, including taxes, homeland security, and his overall economic plan. On health care, Bush held a 57% to 18% lead over Kerry. Sixty-two percent said Bush's policies were better at keeping U.S. corporations competitive in the global market, compared to 18% who favored Kerry's.

The CEOs surveyed experienced a shift in priorities since the second quarter. Respondents named the economy as their top election issue, with 40% naming it, up from 29% in the prior quarter. The war in Iraq was listed as the next most important election issue, with 29% picking it, down from 54% in the second quarter, when it topped the survey.