For Immediate Release Posted by Clinton/Gore Email October 27, 1992 STRONG SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR CLINTON-GORE An independent nationwide poll of more than 1,200 owners and managers of small businesses has found clear and unprecedented preference for Governor Bill Clinton and his economic plan. The poll found that if the election were held today, Bill Clinton would receive the support of 36 percent of the owners and managers surveyed, while 27 percent and 9 percent would back George Bush and Ross Perot respectively. The uncommitted respondents were evenly divided among the three candidates. Bush's negative ratings were more than ten times those of Clinton and twice those of Perot. When asked if there was a candidate they definitely would not vote for, 34 percent of the undecided group said Bush, 16 percent said Perot, and only 3 percent said Clinton. Alan Patricof, Chairman of Entrepreneurs for Clinton-Gore, stated that the "poll results confirm what thousands of small businessmen and women know from hard experience -- the Bush Administration has failed small businesses. They trust Bill Clinton to get the economy moving again." On two questions regarding specific small business issues, Clinton and Perot split the results. One-third of respondents said Clinton would be most likely to improve the ability of small businesses to raise capital, twice the number that named Bush. Forty percent of the respondents said Perot would be most likely to decrease federal regulations on small firms if elected, compared to Clinton's 29 percent. Only 11 percent thought that Bush would be most likely to decrease federal regulations on small firms. The poll, conducted by H&M Consulting of Sunnyvale, California, is based on nationwide telephone interviews conducted October 21-23 with 1,232 owners and managers of companies with less than 40 employees. H&M Consulting found the results "a bit surprising, given small business' recent tendency to vote Republican." These results are similar to an earlier poll by H&M Consulting which found that among executives of small to mid-size high technology firms, Clinton held a commanding 58 to 34 percent lead over Bush. The prior high tech poll also gave Clinton's plan, "Putting People First," high marks. Fifty-six percent of the executives stated that Clinton offers "the best overall economic plan," while 42 percent preferred the Bush plan, and only 2 percent favored the Perot plan. Today's indication of small business community support for Governor Clinton continues a trend of significant bipartisan endorsements for his candidacy and economic plan. On September 21 in Chicago, over 400 CEOs representing major corporations, regional companies and entrepreneurs publicly endorsed Governor Clinton's presidential bid. On September 15, the Presidents and CEOs of 30 of the nation's leading high-technology companies, including long- time Republican CEOs John Sculley of Apple Computer and John Young of Hewlett-Packard, strongly endorsed the Clinton-Gore ticket. The Clinton-Gore plan of "Putting People First" has previously been endorsed by over 600 economists, including 10 Nobel Prize winners. -30-