Which candidate is most supportive of small business? New poll says Obama.

A new small business poll out yesterday by the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management and Thumbtack.com showed some very interesting results.  Over 6000 small business owners completed the online survey.  You can see all the results including a state by state analysis here. 

Here are some of the highlights:

• 40% of all small business owners nationwide rate the economy and jobs as the most important factor in their choice for president. Ethics, honesty, and corruption in government is the second-most important factor for small businesses.
• Taxes are not a decisive factor for small businesses in this election, with only 3% of small businesses rating it as the most important issue in their choice for president - outranking only foreign policy and national security issues. Even among economic issues, tax policy was the top concern for less than 6% of small businesses.
• The federal budget deficit looms large in the mind of small businesses, ranking behind only unemployment and the job market in the most important economic issues that small businesses are considering in their choice for president.
• Small businesses rate gas and fuel costs as the single most burdensome cost to their businesses. And self-employment taxes were rated as more burdensome than even personal income taxes or health care costs.
• The policy most commonly mentioned by small businesses that would help their business is improved access to loans.
• 39% of small businesses say that President Obama is the most supportive candidate of small business, whereas only 31% say the same of Governor Romney. And 28% are still not sure which presidential candidate is more supportive of small business.