Obama, Ron Paul Lead in Donations by Troops

OpenSecrets.org is reporting that troops deployed overseas have contributed to Barack Obama's campaign by a rate of 6 to 1 over John McCain, and to Ron Paul by quadruple:

According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain, and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul, though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain's haul.

Despite McCain's status as a decorated veteran and a historically Republican bent among the military, members of the armed services overall -- whether stationed overseas or at home -- are also favoring Obama with their campaign contributions in 2008, by a $55,000 margin. Although 59 percent of federal contributions by military personnel has gone to Republicans this cycle, of money from the military to the presumed presidential nominees, 57 percent has gone to Obama.

I put together a handy visual aid, to help illustrate the disparity.

PACs and lobbyists are always quick to remind us that money is speech, so I will leave it to you to decide what a 10 to 1 ratio in favor of the anti-Iraq War, pro-Constitution candidates is saying about how our bravest feel in this election.

I'd also like to point out to Ben Smith that I'm apparently not the only one who has noticed the common cause between these two candidates.