Worried Democrats courting elderly voters as midterm elections near

[alp227]

Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) is no stranger to Greenspring Village, a gated retirement community in Springfield that is a frequent stop for local politicos. It leans Democratic, but that tilt is being tested in a year in which the party faces a perilous erosion of support from an age group that will probably play an outsize role in this year's elections: senior citizens.

So Connolly came by again on Tuesday. He brought cake and diabetic-friendly cookies, and made a personal plea to supporters who showed up to clasp his hand and tell them he has their vote.

"Make sure your neighbors feel that way, too," he told one couple, his hand on the woman's shoulder.

The visit was part of a recent push by Democratic leaders to highlight their commitment to Social Security in tandem with the program's 75th birthday -- and also to try to seize on the issue as a way to regain their footing with seniors. Several Republicans have revived the idea of privatizing the federal entitlement program, an idea that met with deep resistance when President George W. Bush proposed it five years ago and that Democrats are looking to exploit this year.

But the effort exposes a deeper problem Democrats face this fall: They have struggled to maintain support among seniors in recent years, even as they have racked up large margins among young adults. Voters older than 65 were the one age group that did not back Barack Obama in 2008, and their disenchantment has only grown since he took office -- especially after his health-care overhaul was passed this year.

In a poll this month by the Pew Research Center, 46 percent of seniors reported that they would be voting for the Republican on their congressional ballot this fall, compared with 43 percent for the Democrat. The most recent Gallup data showed an even starker difference: Fifty-three percent of seniors said they would vote for a Republican House candidate and 38 percent said they would opt for the Democrat.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/19/AR2010081906688.html

[Monique1]

1. I'm a senior no way I'll vote republican but sorry to say

seniors don't think or read they watch the BS network

[Bitwit1234]

2. Maybe some of the democrats should have thought of

that when they sent billions and billions to Iraq and Afgan and voted against a $250 check to seniors who didn't get a raise this year. If I lived in any of those states I would certainly make it hot as hell for them. Although I would never ever vote for this bunch of POS republicans.

[DURHAM D]

3. The money quote:

"The president, I think, needs to be a better grief therapist," he said. "As inspiring as he can be to young people, he doesn't get the kind of fears that creep up on people when they get older."

Obama should of given more thought to splitting the generations when he repeatedly said that SS (just like Medicare) was in trouble starting in the primary and subsequently appointing the Cat Food Commission. The amount seniors pay for Medicare coverage goes up every year with higher deductibles, no SS cost of living increase for several years to come, no decent (affordable) prescription drug program, private insurance to cover what Medicare doesn't pay for goes up every year, etc. If there is something to help them in the HRC legislation they are not aware of it.

Frankly, Obama has treated seniors like they are stupid and a nuisance from the beginning. This is what happens. They are not as stupid as the W.H. seems to think they are.

[fogonthelake]

4. and now he is trying hard to reassure them by saying he

will protect SS.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. He'll protect it from the committee he set up himself

what a riot!

[SteveM]

10. Ha! I may be 62, but I'm not senile. Jesus, now I know what Malcolm X...

meant by a "controlled show."

[old mark]

5. The committee seems to be hell bent on reducing Social Security coverage

when there is no real need to alter it other than removing the cap on contributions/deductions for the rich...Oh, please I KNOW it's so unfair to expect the rich to be grateful and, yes, patriotic Americans and pay their fair share instead of making greed their religion...

The Democrats should find some courage somewhere and lose the "bipartisanship" idea before it kills us all.
FWIW, I am 63 and on social security and I'm NOT stupid nor a teabagger.

I'd LOVE the Democrats if they had given us effective health insurance and stopped this nonsense about giving in to the GOP at every turn.

I will vote for them in November because I always do, but...


mark

[txlibdem]

8. What can I say about that

With age comes wisdom. Great comment, Mark.

[SteveM]

11. "giving in to the GOP at every turn" has become DNC's ideology. nt

[cowman]

7. I'll hold my nose

and vote for Harry Reid in Nov. but I will vote local Repub which is the Sheriff of Nye County Tony DeMeo who has done a hell of a job, he is pro-2nd Amend, pro civil rights, honest and done a very good job as Sheriff so I think he deserves my vote and his re-election has nothing to do with the national scene

[SteveM]

9. So, SS is up for "reform," and the Party wants to talk with a 62-yr-old? thanx.

[old mark]

12. I'm a 63 year old white male veteran. I have never voted republican in the last 40 years

and I certainly will be voting for Democrats this November.

The current bunch of republicans are real trash. Anyone who thinks they are fit to hold elected office has no love of America, and no concept of history or humanity for that matter.


mark