Thread: Republicans Risk Losing Key Voting Bloc Senior Citizens'

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113460209324022801.html

Republicans Risk Losing Key Voting Bloc Senior Citizens' Unhappiness With Issues Has Implications for Midterm Elections
By Joh Hardwood
The Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2005; Page A4

Washington -- While President Bush has high hopes for today's elections in Iraq, his Republican Party faces a different challenge at home: quelling the political insurgency among elderly American voters like Virginia Renfro.

'They should shake [Washington] up a little bit,' says Ms. Renfro, 68 years old, a retired school-cafeteria worker in LaPorte, Ind. Displeased with Mr. Bush's Social Security ideas, confused by Medicare's prescription-drug benefit and unhappy with illegal immigration, Ms. Renfro isn't sure she will vote again for her fellow Republican, Rep. Chris Chocola, in November's midterm elections.

The new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll makes clear that Ms. Renfro has plenty of company. In a period of broad-ranging public discontent, that among senior citizens stands out as most worrisome for Republicans aiming to keep control of the House and Senate in the fall.
. . .
Republican congressional incumbents have ample time to try to improve the mood of older voters, as Mr. Bush has done in recent weeks with his communications offensive on Iraq. And the poll suggests that one promising target is action on immigration policy.

By a 60%-26% margin, those 65 and over say that immigration currently hurts the U.S. more than it helps. Those under 65 view immigration negatively by a 52%-39% margin.

Republicans strategists lately have seized on immigration after struggles with other issues, such as Mr. Bush's Social Security plan. House Republicans are attempting to pass legislation tightening border security by year end, while Senate leaders vow to turn to the issue early in 2006.

'Immigration becomes a wild-card issue for older Americans,' says Mr. Hart, the Democratic pollster.

"Displeased with Mr. Bush's Social Security ideas, confused by Medicare's prescription-drug benefit and unhappy with illegal immigration"

She sounds like me