Military Poll: Romney Creams Obama by 40 Percentage Points

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney may be nearly tied among voters as a whole, but among military members, the former Massachusetts governor is obliterating the president, 66 percent to 26 percent, according to a new poll from the Military Times.

To be sure the survey covers only military personnel who subscribe to the paper. This population is older and more senior than the military population at large, but it is representative of the professional core of the all-volunteer force, the Times says.

Interestingly enough, 41 percent of respondents said the economy is the most important issue, compared to only 16 percent for national security.

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“There is really an affinity for Republican candidates, even though [troops] say that what counts is character and handling the economy,” Richard Kohn, who teaches military history at the University of North Carolina, told the Times.

A 28-year-old Army captain told the paper, “When I talk to my soldiers, it’s not social issues. It’s almost not even military issues. What it comes down to is pocketbook issues. They currently see Mitt Romney as being stronger for their pocketbook.”

In 2008, Republican war hero John McCain scored an even bigger victory over Obama in this poll – 68 to 23 percent.