Americans - even Republicans - part ways with Perry's "Fed Up" Social Security invective.

Virtually the first question of Perry's first debate gave the Texas Governor an opportunity to respond to the media maelstrom provoked by his harangue of Social Security. CNN quickly pumped out national numbers on the topic and their polling of Americans released this week does not find much sympathy for Perry's harsh critique of Social Security. Only 27% of Americans agree that describing Social Security as a "failure" and "monstrous lie" is accurate (72% Not Accurate). Even among Republicans, a better than 2:1 margin dispute the labels Perry's book affixed to the program (31% Accurate / 69% Not Accurate). Numbers like this demonstrate why Perry's hard-right stance on Social Security has many Republicans wondering if Perry is not just out of the mainstream of the general electorate, but also of a Republican primary universe comprised disproportionately of Social Security beneficiaries.

Voters support reforming Social Security, but not replacing it.

To be fair to Perry, CNN also finds that some of the rhetoric employed by Perry (and others looking to change Social Security) is more in synch with voters on the program's needs moving forward. Perry's problem is that voters do not want to radically overhaul Social Security.

The same CNN polling released this week shows a majority of Americans (55%) believe Social Security's "problems are serious and can be fixed only with major changes to the system". An additional 28% believe "minor changes" are necessary, to just 4% who believe no changes are necessary. Only 12% believe "Social Security's problems are so bad that the system should be replaced". Similarly, June polling from Pew found that three in four Americans believe Social Security needs either "major" (34%) or "minor" (41%) changes, but only 18% believe it should be "completely rebuilt" (18%). These numbers prove why it is imperative for Perry, or any candidate, to be perceived as offering constructive changes to strengthen and secure the existing system, and not to be pigeon-holed as an ideologue looking to scrap Social Security in favor of a new system.

Voters would rather increase spending or increase taxes rather than cut Social Security benefits.

Polling surrounding the debt ceiling debate demonstrated how protective voters are of the basic social safety net for seniors. National Journal polling found that twice as many Americans are concerned about steep cuts to Social Security / Medicare (39%) than are concerned with too much spending (19%), higher taxes (17%), or a government default (17%). In addition, Pew found that a roughly 2:1 margin said it was more important to keep Social Security / Medicare benefits static (60%) than to take steps to reduce the deficit (32%).

Pew polling also clearly shows Americans place a high priority on maintaining benefits for seniors (62%), even when given the option of just asking "well off seniors" to give up some of their benefits (33%). Similarly, Americans would rather avoid any cuts in Social Security benefits (56%) than avoid "tax increases for workers" (33%).

Americans may support the concept of Social Security reform in the abstract, but are less enthused about the specific components of reform.

This March, ABC News / Washington Post tested potential components of Social Security reform. By roughly 2:1 Americans oppose cutting "guaranteed benefits for future retirees" (32% Support / 66% Oppose) or "increasing the Social Security tax rate" (35% Support / 61% Oppose). The only concept earning majority support is eliminating the pay-roll tax cap (currently at $107,000) and collecting Social Security taxes on all income (53% Support / 43% Oppose). Americans show less enthusiasm for raising the retirement age (42% Support / 57% Oppose), a further reduction of benefits for those who retire early (46% Support / 52% Oppose), or changing the way Social Security benefit increases are calculated (45% Support / 58% Oppose).

These numbers again demonstrate voters may be open to small-scale reforms, like raising or eliminating the payroll tax cap, but will be hostile to politicians advocating whole-scale, fundamental changes to a program that remains very popular among Americans.