Reuters: Bush retirement revamp campaign falls flat

Bush retirement revamp campaign falls flat
28 Apr 2005 16:33:45 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush hoped a 60-day road show on Social Security would stir a clamor to change the program but polls suggest the campaign may have backfired, reinforcing dislike of Bush's remedies and bruising his popularity.

This week marks the finale of Bush's 24-stop campaign in which he has argued that Social Security is headed for financial trouble and should be overhauled to include private investment accounts.

The president's supporters say the 60-day campaign has succeeded in highlighting the importance of fixing Social Security. But polls make clear Bush's pitch on private stock and bond accounts has fallen flat with a public wary of the stock market wildcard.

A Washington Post-ABC News this week found 51 percent of Americans opposed the accounts, up from 41 percent in mid-March. Those supporting accounts fell to 45 percent from 56 percent in March.



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