Poll: Bush's Social Security Plan is Tough Sell

Groups

There are generational differences on Social Security. Opposition to Bush's plan peaks at 62 percent among senior citizens. Fifty-two percent of seniors not only oppose Bush's plan, but do so strongly -- an extremely high level of intense opposition. However, even among 18- to 29-year-olds, strong opponents outnumber strong supporters by 2-to-1, albeit at much lower levels of intensity, 23 percent to 12 percent.

Views of Bush's Proposals by Age
	Support	Oppose
18-29	40%	49
30-39	44	50
40-49	37	56
50-64	34	58
65+	31	62

There is also strong partisanship on this issue: Opposition runs to 83 percent among Democrats and 56 percent among independents, while 74 percent of Republicans back the president's proposals.

On some specific proposals, views transcend partisanship. More than six in 10 Republicans, Democrats and independents alike oppose increasing the Social Security tax rate (something Bush has ruled out). And 55 percent to 58 percent, across party lines, support raising the $90,000 cap on taxable income. Indeed this idea -- which Bush has not ruled out -- wins majority support both from supporters and opponents of his proposals overall.

Bush's Proposals on Social Security
	Support	Oppose
All	37%	55
Age 65+	31	62
40-49	37	56
18-30	40	49
Democrats	11	83
Independents	33	56
Republicans	74	20
Think Major Changes Needed	47	45
Major Changes Not Needed	27	68
Well-Informed on Bush Plan	43	56
Not Well-Informed on Bush Plan	32	54

Approvals

As noted, at 35 percent, approval of Bush's work on Social Security is at a career low. He more generally remains a 50 percent president: Half of Americans approve of his job performance overall, 48 percent disapprove, about the same as just before his second inauguration, and indeed about the same as it has been on average for the past year. (Slightly more now disapprove strongly than approve strongly, 37 percent to 31 percent.)

Bush's Handling of Social Security
	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
3/13/05	35	56	9

More disapprove than approve of his work on the economy as well as on Social Security. His rating on health care has moderated a bit but is hardly strong; 44 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove. The campaign against terrorism -- the issue that won Bush re-election -- remains the cornerstone of his presidency, with a 59 percent to 38 percent approval rating. All these are little changed from an ABC/Post poll in mid-January. (Bush's ratings on Iraq will be the subject of a separate analysis Tuesday.)

Approval of Bush's Handling of the Issues
Terrorism	59%
Overall Job	50
Health Care	44
Economy	43
Social Security	35

Priorities

No one issue dominates the public's agenda: Asked what Bush and Congress should make their top priority this year, 27 percent cite the economy and jobs, 23 percent Iraq, 17 percent terrorism and 16 percent health care. But, as noted, Social Security ranks a clear last, selected by 10 percent.

It trails these other issues as a priority even among people who say the system is headed for a crisis, as well as among those who say it needs major changes; and it ranks ahead of just one -- health care -- even among those who support Bush's Social Security proposals.

Methodology

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone March 10-13 among a random national sample of 1,001 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation were done by TNS of Horsham, Pa.

Click here for PDF version with full questionnaire and results.