Poll: Majority Of Voters Say Medicare Needs Only Minor Changes Or None At All

A new round of polls finds that although voters have a slightly favorable view of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's pick for vice president, running mate Paul Ryan's Medicare plans are viewed with a greater degree of skepticism.   

The Wall Street Journal: In Tight Race, Romney Faces Hurdles
At a time when the campaign has pivoted toward Medicare and proposals to alter the government health-care program for seniors, voters were divided over how far any overhaul should go. A majority said the system needed just minor changes or none at all, while 42% said the system needed a major or complete overhaul. But the poll found tepid support for ideas floated by Mr. Romney and his running mate to offer future seniors a guaranteed government payment that they could use to purchase private health insurance or to stay in Medicare (King and Yadron, 8/21).

The Washington Post: Seniors<3 Paul Ryan
Grandma isn't scared of Paul Ryan. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows 41 percent of Americans view the new GOP vice presidential nominee favorably, while 37 percent rate him unfavorably — slightly improved from last week's polling (Blake, 8/22).

Bloomberg: Americans Disapprove Of Ryan's Medicare Plan, Poll Says
More than seven in 10 Americans have heard of Republican vice president-designate Paul Ryan's proposal to eliminate traditional Medicare, and among them those who oppose the idea outnumber supporters, according to a poll released today. The survey by the Pew Research Center found 72 percent of respondents aware of Ryan's plan to provide vouchers for the purchase of private health insurance, which the Wisconsin congressman has since revised. Of those who have heard of the proposal, 49 percent oppose it and 34 percent support it. The poll also shows more respondents disapproved than approved of Ryan as the Republican vice presidential candidate (Salant, 8/21).

The Hill: Poll Finds Disapproval Of Rep. Ryan For Vice President And His Medicare Plan
The public doesn't like Paul Ryan's Medicare plan — or Paul Ryan — according to a new poll. Forty-nine percent of voters oppose Ryan's controversial proposal to privatize Medicare, according to the latest survey from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Ryan's selection as Mitt Romney's running mate also got low marks: 46 percent said Ryan was a "poor" or "only fair" choice. By contrast, only 28 percent said Ryan was a "good" or "excellent" choice for vice president, and only 34 percent said they approve of his Medicare plan (Baker, 8/21).