Peterson Foundation Poll Finds 81% of Battleground-State Voters Favor Social Security Cut Avoidance Plans

According to CNBC, a new Peter G. Peterson Foundation survey found that 81% of respondents in competitive Senate race states said they are more likely to vote for candidates with plans to avoid automatic Social Security benefit cuts than for a candidate who promises not to touch Social Security. The online poll surveyed 2,500 registered voters in Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas between Aug. 20 and Aug. 27, with a margin of error of 4.4%. The survey also found that once respondents were told about the projected 2032 depletion of the Social Security trust fund and the potential for a 22% cut to benefits without congressional action, support for Social Security reforms rose to 91% from 49%. That 91% included 92% of Republicans, 90% of Democrats, 94% of respondents age 65 and over, 92% of those ages 45 to 64 and 87% of those ages 18 to 44. Among the reform options tested, 72% supported increasing the payroll tax cap by 1% for all income above $184,500. Another 66% favored capping Social Security benefits so no retired couple would receive more than $100,000 a year, while 65% backed reducing benefits for the top 20% of earners and 65% supported gradual benefit adjustments and tax increases. Just 29% said they would support government borrowing to avoid automatic benefit cuts.