WASHINGTON — Republican leaders in Congress, faced with the political reality that there is little grass-roots momentum behind President Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security, are planning to spread out across the country next week to try to build a constituency for change -- and to take a watchful measure of voters' response.
GOP leaders are encouraging rank-and-file members to hold town hall meetings in their home states and districts during next week's congressional recess, arming them with briefing books, PowerPoint presentations and a video of Bush making the case for major changes in Social Security.
But many Republicans will not be joining their leaders in promoting Bush's proposal. Some lawmakers will be trying to have more low-key "listening sessions" with their constituents to test the political waters. Others plan to focus on other issues and address Social Security only if constituents raise it.
"The situation is fluid, but it has the potential to blow up," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-Va.). "I'm going to keep my mouth shut."
The president wants to allow workers under 55 to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into private investment accounts. Bush has cast the accounts as part of a broader, and still-emerging, plan to shore up the finances of Social Security that might entail benefit cuts or tax increases, although he has not endorsed those options.
The town hall presentations are part of a coordinated political effort that involves the White House, the Republican National Committee and outside business groups, as well as congressional leaders.
The intensity of their combined focus is a measure of how concerned Republicans are about one of the biggest obstacles facing Bush: a public that has been largely lukewarm to or fearful of his approach to restructuring Social Security.
It is a problem that is getting worse, not better, according to a recent national survey. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that the share of people who supported private accounts had dropped from 46% to 40% in the weeks after Bush started barnstorming the country to promote the idea.
"This is a long process," said Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), a top party leader who plans to hold two Social Security events a day in his home state next week. "We have a lot of education to do, both internally with our members and staff, as well as externally with the people of America."
