Romney leads Obama amongst veterans
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (L) greets a veteran during a Memorial Day Tribute at Veterans Museum & Memorial Center on May 28, 2012 in San Diego, California. U.S. Sen John McCain (R-AZ) joined Mitt Romney at a Memorial Day tribute before heading to Colorado.
Mitt Romney has a commanding 24 percent lead among veterans, according to a Gallup poll released Memorial Day Monday.
Veterans make up 13 percent of the US adult population, according to the polling firm. 24 percent of all adult men are vets; just 2 percent of adult women have served.
"Just 32 percent of male veterans say Obama is their choice this November," wrote Politico.
However, female veterans are just as likely to support Barack Obama as their non-military counterparts, wrote Gallup, adding more polling numbers to a stack of evidence that shows a gender divide between supporters of Obama and Romney.
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The huge lead amongst servicemembers is not new. In August 2008, candidate and Vietnam veteran John McCain held a 22 percent advantage over Obama amongst veterans, according to Gallup. And even though neither Romney nor Obama are veterans – a first since World War II, according to The New York Times – servicemembers are still sticking with the GOP candidate.
Obama has tried to connect with veterans in several ways. "Joining Forces," a program run by First Lady Michelle Obama, aims to help veterans families. Obama has also touted tax credits for hiring veterans, healthcare reform, and ending the Iraq War as gestures to veterans.
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