A recent survey conducted by the popular military personality, Doctrine Man, shows that American troops favor libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson over both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. According to the study, Johnson garnered support from 38.7 percent of active duty troops, while 30.9 percent support Trump, and 14.1 percent support Clinton.
“Although the survey was not a scientific poll with a margin of error, it provides a snapshot of the preferences of about 3,500 active duty, reservists, retired and former members of the military and their family members,” said Kristina Wong in an article for The Hill.
Johnson won the plurality of support among all branches of the military except the Navy, which ranked Trump as the top choice. Current, reserve, and former members of the Army favored Johnson at 35.4 percent to Trump’s 31.4 percent and Clinton’s 15.3 percent. Respondents from the Air Force chose Johnson at 39 percent, Trump at 27.1 percent, and Clinton at 12.9 percent. The Marine community followed suit, granting Johnson, Trump, and Clinton 44.1 percent, 27.1 percent, and 12.7 percent respectively.
Despite her underwhelming performance among active duty members, the poll shows that their families prefer Clinton at 29.4 percent. Trump came out on top among retirees at 37.4; however, after including former military members who served fewer than 20 years, Johnson came in first at 36.1 percent.
These numbers come just as Johnson finds himself polling at his highest numbers yet. A four-candidate CNN/ORC survey conducted July 13-16 places him at 13 percent, the highest number he’s ever reached in a national poll.
“I don’t have all the historical data at my fingertips, but it’s a safe bet that 13 percent is the highest number a Libertarian Party presidential candidate has ever registered,” said Matt Welch of Reason.
Over the past few months, Johnson has been inching towards the 15 percent needed to get into the nationally televised presidential debates. He’ll need to do so across a set of polls that have yet to be identified by the Commission on Presidential Debates before debate season begins in late September. He still has a way to go, but is certainly gaining momentum.
