Post-primary polling shows small-business owners and their employees are a significant voting segment equal to or even larger than well-established voting blocs such as veterans and union members, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's leading small-business advocacy association.

The NFIB 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 health care to be one of the most important issues to small businesses.

Among the results of the survey:

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


• In Missouri, small-business owners and employees comprised 32 percent of the Republicans who voted, vs. 21 percent[1] who were veterans. On the Democrat side in Missouri, small-business owners and employees were 28 percent, vs. 16 percent who were union members.


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


• In Arizona, small-business owners and employees made up 31 percent of the Democrats who voted, vs. 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 chief executive officer.

According the NFIB, despite their significant presence, the issues that matter to small-business owners and their employees have been overlooked by the presidential candidates.

"The research shows that healthcare reform is a top concern for America's job creators, and they are desperately seeking help from the next president," Stottlemyer said. "Small-business owners and employees are bearing the overwhelming burden of a broken health care system that needs real reform. Candidates from both parties need to address this crisis head on. Because when you fix health care for small-business, you fix it for America."

The Wisconsin primary will take place Tuesday, Feb. 19. For ongoing coverage of the presidential race, visit WisPolitics.com, a media partner of Small Business Times.