Presidential Candidates and Moderators Leave Voters Guessing on Social Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2016

CONTACT: AARP Media Relations, 202-434-2560, media@aarp.org, @AARPMedia

Statement by AARP’s John Hishta on Presidential Debate: Presidential Candidates and Moderators Leave Voters Guessing on Social Security

WASHINGTON, DC — “Opinions on who won Sunday night’s Presidential debate will vary but who lost is clear: the millions of American voters who want to understand how the candidates would keep Social Security strong for future generations,” AARP Senior Vice President, Campaigns, John Hishta said.

“The debate was the best chance for voters to get real answers on how the Presidential candidates would address Social Security’s significant financial challenges,” Hishta said.

“Failing to ask a question about how to fix Social Security disregarded thousands of voters who contacted the debate moderators via social media to urge them to ask the candidates how they’ll lead on Social Security. We will now turn our attention to pressing Fox’s Chris Wallace to answer voters’ call for the answers they deserve before Election Day,” he said.

Social Security faces a significant revenue shortfall that, while still a number of years away, would result in a nearly 25 percent, across-the-board benefits cut for all Social Security recipients if left unaddressed. Despite recent polling in support of more focus on the issue, it has been largely ignored in this election. A battleground AARP survey of Boomer women found 71 percent want the next president and congress to address Social Security immediately and more than two-thirds have heard nothing about the candidates’ plans, AARP said.

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