Veterans, 2012 Presidential Election | featured news

Mitt Romney was in Virginia on Thursday to do what he has been trying to do a lot lately: reach voters in places where he had hoped to be faring better by now. On this day, his targets were military veterans and active-duty service members, a once-reliably Republican group that recent polls show to be closely split between the two candidates.

With the Republican National Convention at last in full-throated roar, nominee Mitt Romney and his team reached out Wednesday to connect with critical voting groups - veterans, Hispanics and women - while gleefully mocking the man he is out to defeat in November.

President Obama's campaign is saluting his VFW speech today with a video promoting his policies toward veterans. The three-minute video emphasizes the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and testimonies from military members who back Obama. "Since day one, President Obama has made it a priority to keep the sacred trust we hold with those who wear the uniform of the United States and their families," says the campaign.

Mitt Romney made some lazy remarks the other day to veterans that further demonstrate he will offer few, if any, new ideas for governing our country. Flanked by John McCain and speaking to a crowd of veterans, Romney gave the same speech Republican presidential candidates have given for 50 years. “We have two courses we can follow,”  said Mr. Romney.  “One is to follow the pathway of Europe and shrink our military smaller and smaller to pay for our social needs.

As the nation remembers veterans who have served their country throughout the U.S. military, a new Gallup poll reveals that those same veterans overwhelmingly support Mitt Romney over President Obama in the race for the White House.

President Obama has wound down America’s war in Iraq, ordered the operation that killed Osama bin Laden and set in motion the end of U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan. He also has focused particular attention on veterans and military families, increasing funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs, implementing the post-Sept. 11 G.I. Bill and launching job programs for returning troops.