Yesterday, we noted the USA Today/Gallup poll that showed Paul Ryan and Barack Obama in a statistical dead head on their competing budget plans, but today’s Gallup release is worth a second look. According to their poll, Ryan does best in a surprising demographic, and that may end up making it more difficult to sell Obama’s “Mediscare!” campaign:

Ryan’s plan includes a complete restructuring of Medicare for people younger than 55. Pluralities of middle-aged Americans as well as those 65 and older prefer Ryan’s plan to Obama’s, while adults 18 to 29 show more support for Obama’s, 53% to 30%. These findings are in line with approval of Obama by age, more generally.

Only 18-29YO voters favor Obama’s plan, 53/30. All other demographics show a six-point edge to Ryan, with approval edging up from 45% to 48%. The finding on the seniors may actually not matter all that much, since Ryan’s plan offers some grandfathering (if you’ll pardon the expression) for current recipients.

The support among those 50-64 years of age, 47/41, is actually more telling. After all, these are the people who have spent their lives paying into the system, and could be expected to be the most resentful of entitlement reform when they’re on the cusp of qualifying for them. Yet they seem more comfortable with Ryan’s overhaul than with Obama’s cuts-and-status-quo approach.

Why? Perhaps because they are used to making their own decisions for themselves. A voucher plan puts them more in control of their own health care, rather than relying on the whim of a government board like the IPAB to decide when, how, and if they’ll get coverage for care. It seems interesting that the age demographic with the least life experience in making their own decisions feels most comfortable with the top-down diktat approach.

These numbers give Ryan an edge in the debate, although a thin one to be sure. Obama’s attempt to frighten seniors into panic at the idea of choice and self-management doesn’t seem to be working terribly well, and Ryan has a wide opening to argue for the American values of individual choice as a means for reform.

Remarkable. Truly a great sign that this group is not falling for scare tactics. If we can make a breakthrough on entitlement reforms without the typical effective demagogue tactics, we have a shot at saving this nation.

It’s the younger folks ironically who are resistant to the Ryan Plan. Go Figure.

While Obama is trashing Ryan’s plan and Trump is giving it shortshrift at best, senior citizens like what Ryan has to offer. Great!

Ryan’s plan is courageous.

Schools, media, brainwashing, stupidity, ignorance, etc, etc, etc.

But...but...

The seniors that work out at my gym, drive BMW’s plastered with Obama bumper stickers and HATE the Paul Ryan plan with a passion.

I’ve heard more than one senior state that the cure for Social Security is just raising the taxes on the top 5% of the wealthy people in the USA.

But,I do live in Austin Texas.

But...but...

This is the first time I remember where seniors accepted a change to retirement benefits, which is what I see as so significant. I believe since the Tea Party advent, seniors in particular are paying more attention than ever before, and the majority were in our corner since Obamacare. This issue could easily scare some people in that group back to the Democrats, which is significant because they do vote in such high percentages.

I would imagine the younger people are less engaged on the details, on average. Additionally, this plan changes what we all will get. I like what I see so far from the plan, but I do still have questions about the realities of the program. Over time, I want to better understand how this system would cover my costs and understand how we as seniors would be dealt with by the insurance companies. I believe in free market solutions to health care, but I have no illusions that the health care companies are saints. I am 100% for this plan because I think it addresses the major challenges, but still look forward to learning more.

But young voters overwhelmingly sided with Obama by a 23-point margin, 53 to 30 percent.

Either the light goes on magically in your head once you pass age 30, or this is going to be a flat-out Communist country in another forty years.

I’m guessing in Austin that the seniors you see are:

A: retired lawyers
B: retired lobbyist
C: retired college professors

Thank God for the rest of Texas! You know, the folks who support all the free loaders in Austin.

Great news.

Now enough of us need to hang on until the 2012 election!

Turn out!