GOP has fears in 2006 regarding Social Security

David Espo of the AP falls for the White House schtick and reports:

House Republican leaders must consider President Bush's proposal for personal Social Security accounts "in the context of the 2006 midterm elections," their pollsters cautioned Tuesday in a confidential memo that said it will be difficult to sway workers nearing retirement, a key portion of the electorate.

Wait, did he say confidential memo? Bring on the meat, Espo!

Still, advocates of the plan have persuasive arguments on their side, the memo said, suggesting they stress that the accounts are voluntary; they will give workers a chance to control their own investments; and their children will be able to inherit what they have accumulated.

I've always thought the inheritance idea was a bit sneaky. In essence, any money you don't use does get passed along to future generations, including your kids. Of course, under the current system, your kids would be guaranteed to get something, whereas under the Bush dismantle plan, it all depends on investing acumen. I have a feeling the poll did not take that into effect.

Moving on:

In contrast, pollsters advised House GOP leaders that the arguments in opposition that are most persuasive with voters are "messages regarding families possibly losing retirement if the market goes down, and workers not having necessary investment knowledge."

Those arguments "have a greater persuasive impact" on voters age 55 and older, the memo said. That segment of the population is likely to make up 40 percent or more of the electorate in 2006, it said.

The pollsters also reported majority support for requiring payroll taxes to be paid on all income and reducing the starting benefit for all those who retire early. "But a majority of voters oppose increasing Social Security payroll taxes on all workers, reducing the starting benefit for all future retirees, raising the retirement age, or borrowing money and increasing the debt," the memo said.

I think that lays out a fairly decent battle plan for the Democrats. I wouldn't give up on the "there is no crisis" idea, either, but supplement it with the idea that market volatility could in fact create one under the Bush plan, and I think you've got yourself a winner.

And what should Democrats propose to "strengthen Social Security?" Read it again:

The pollsters also reported majority support for requiring payroll taxes to be paid on all income and reducing the starting benefit for all those who retire early.

Which I think is a logical conclusion that I have come to before here.

Keep watching, as the battle rages on.