Social Security big issue in 5th district congressional race

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Democrat Scott Reske believes his support for Social Security is a defining issue in his bid to defeat Republican Susan Brooks. It's the race for the 5th district seat that now belongs to retiring GOP Congressman Dan Burton.

That's why, with House Majority leader Eric Cantor here in Indianapolis tonight hosting a pair of fundraisers for Brooks, Reske and the Democrats launched a pre-emptive strike earlier today.

Susan Brooks won a tough primary with outside help from the likes of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Now House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is bringing help for November and she embraces it. "I am aligned with the leaders in Congress who are putting forth solutions and ideas," says Brooks.

"She's attacking Social Security and Medicare," says Reske, "there's no two ways about it." Reske also sees opportunity in the Cantor visit and he stood outside the local Social Security office to talk about it. "Social Security and Medicare have not added one penny to our national debt," he said, "yet both Cantor and Susan Brooks are determined to blame retirees and working families for our national economic problems." He claims they support dismantling Social Security and making Medicare a voucher program.

In fact, Brooks supports changing those programs. "Changes are going to have to be made in the long run," says Brooks. "We are on a path to bankruptcy." But she says those changes should not affect anyone currently eligible for benefits. "It should be preserved for those who have paid into it," she says, "and it should be preserved for those who are older, and those who are 55 and older."

Cantor, for his part, just delivered Saturday's GOP response to the President's weekly address and he stuck to the jobs issue. "After over 40 straight months of 8%-plus unemployment," he said, "isn't it time to make jobs priority one?" And that's where Susan Brooks says that she is most closely aligned with the GOP leadership.

Reske is motivated by the fact that 30% of the voters in the 5th District are retired. Social Security is an issue that can move numbers there.