Obama, Clinton battle for military votes

By Andrew Gray

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Promising a strong military and better care for veterans, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are battling for the support of a town dominated by the home of the 82nd Airborne Division.

With its big Army base at Fort Bragg, the immediate focus in Fayetteville, North Carolina -- motto: "History, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling" -- is the state's Democratic primary election next week.

But Obama and Clinton, in a close fight to be their party's nominee to run in November's presidential election, also hope to make inroads across America into the traditional support for Republicans among military voters.

Despite the unpopularity of the Iraq war, analysts say that will not be easy against the Republican candidate, Sen. John McCain, a former Navy pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Democrats believe long, repeated and grueling tours of duty will prompt some members of the military and their families to back Obama or Clinton, who want to pull troops out.

"They're tired of the deployments. It's back to back to back," said Rebecca Rebrook, a volunteer coordinator at the local Clinton campaign office, where a home-made poster on the wall says "You're My Commander in Chief" in felt pen.

Rebrook, whose husband served in the Army for 20 years, says Clinton's case is helped by the support of former top brass such as retired Army Gen. Hugh Shelton, a North Carolina native and ex-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"That's a big plus in her department," said Rebrook.

'THERE'S GOT TO BE CHANGE'

Clinton, a New York senator, campaigned with Shelton last week in Fayetteville, home to the Army's Special Operations Command as well as the storied 82nd Airborne Division, whose troops have been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, held a rally in nearby Hope Mills this week.

An Army captain in camouflage uniform at Bill Clinton's event said soldiers were more likely to vote for a Democrat this year because they were disillusioned over Iraq, where 4,065 U.S. troops have died since the war began in March 2003.

"The military is broken, it's tired," said the 38-year-old officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity as troops may not voice political views publicly. "There's got to be a change."

There are more than 1.3 million U.S. servicemembers on active duty and another 1.1 million reservists.

In appealing for their votes, Clinton and Obama offer some similar policies.