President Bush has recently increased his efforts to sell the American public on his plan to privatize Social Security despite continuing evidence that more and more Americans are rejecting his proposals. Yet even while launching a “60 cities in 60 days” tour, the president and other administration officials have been carefully maneuvering to allow whatever reform is adopted to be seen as a victory for the administration. Congress began a two-week recess on March 18 and many senators and representatives will devote much of their time in their respective districts to the Social Security issue. Republicans in particular will continue to gauge their constituents’ feelings on reform options. The president’s failure to generate overwhelming support for his proposal among the general public has increasingly made congressional Republicans nervous. Recent polls have shown very weak public support for the president’s approach to Social Security reform. An ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted from March 10–13 revealed that only 35 percent of respondents approve of the way Bush is handling Social Security, and 55 percent stated they “oppose” Bush’s proposals on Social Security. Forty-nine percent of the respondents in opposition were between the ages of 18 and 29 a key demographic group from which Bush hopes to receive tremendous support. (See more poll details.) Another poll conducted by USA Today/CNN/Gallup from Feb. 25–27 found similar results; only about 35 percent of respondents approved of the way Bush is handling Social Security. This poll shows a marked drop in support from one conducted three weeks earlier which had found that 43 percent of respondents — eight percent more — had supported the president on Social Security then. Bush continues to stress that with increased education on social security and the problems the program faces in the future, the public will come around to his plan. Reiterating his standard Social Security tagline, Bush recently said, “I've got a lot of educating to do to convince people not only that we have a problem, but we need to come together and come up with a solution to Social Security.” Democratic congressional leaders are all too happy to have the president continue his public education campaign. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters, “The president says he wants to educate the public. God Bless him — keep at it. The education is working. [The public] is learning more about his proposal and liking it less.” Many believe that by raising the Social Security debate this year, Bush has provided a spark to Democrats by galvanizing the Party and outside groups opposing the president’s plans around a central issue. It may be helping the public perception of the Democratic party and hurting the president's ability to succeed in other areas of his agenda. In addition to polls of Americans from around the country, the president has suffered two recent setbacks in his attempt to sway members of Congress. On March 3, 41 Democratic senators and Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) sent a letter to Bush saying his plan for private accounts was “unacceptable” and called on him to “unambiguously announce that you reject privatized accounts funded with Social Security dollars.” In addition, two Democratic senators who did not sign the letter have publicly stated they will not support private accounts under the scenarios outlined by the White House. The second setback came last week during the floor debate of the Senate budget resolution. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) amassed 50 supporters, including five Republicans, for his amendment expressing the sense of the Senate that any Social Security reform should avoid benefit cuts and massive increases in debt — two main consequences of the president’s proposal. Both Democrats and Republicans will be holding numerous town-hall style events over the next two weeks where much of the focus will be on Social Security. Democrats will be continuing to emphasize that responsible, bipartisan Social Security reform must be devoid of private accounts that would divert a portion of payroll taxes. Republicans also appear at odds with the president’s agenda. Some have created their own reform plans and others support bits and pieces of proposed reforms including raising payroll taxes or the retirement age. Some support Bush’s proposal. But it is clear the GOP does not have a consistent point of view on reforming Social Security. Even though Bush continues to be optimistic about the possibility of his reform plan succeeding, he has gradually shifted his rhetoric on private accounts. On March 16, he twice stated during a news conference that private accounts would not solve the fiscal problems of Social Security. This statement could signal a new flexibility on the president’s part and a realization that his proposals may be running out of political steam.