The trend continues: the more Bush hits the campaign trail to talk up Social Security privatization, the less popular his plan approach becomes. The latest USA Today poll:
The percentage who said it was “extremely important” for the president and Congress to deal with Social Security this year dipped to 37%. In February, before the push began, the number was 41%. Americans rated action on terrorism, health care costs, gas prices and the economy as more urgent.
Support for investment accounts eroded to 33% from 40%; the proportion who called it “a bad idea” grew to 61% from 55%. Nearly half of those surveyed said Bush was “trying to dismantle the Social Security system,” not protect it.
The president began the campaign with stops in states with Democratic senators he was trying to win over — North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas and Florida. None of those senators have budged. Recently, Bush has spent time in such states as South Carolina and Iowa that have Republican officeholders in key roles.
After Bush appeared in Iowa, residents’ support for Bush’s scheme dropped to just 26%, compared to 65% who oppose. It led Tom Harkin to joke, “Extend the 60-day tour to 120 days.”
From your lips to Karl Rove’s ears, Tom.