WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- A poll says lower income Republicans are more likely to oppose reductions in benefits from Medicare, Social Security or Medicaid than wealthier Republicans.
The Pew Research Center poll also said Democrats as a whole are more likely to oppose cuts in social services programs than are Republicans.
Asked if it is more important to reduce the budget deficit or maintain current Medicare and Social Security benefits, 60 percent would keep things the way they are. About 32 percent said it is more important to reduce the deficit.
Half of Republicans said maintaining benefits is more important than deficit reduction while Democrats overwhelmingly (72 percent) favor keeping the status quo.
The higher the income bracket of GOP respondents, the more likely they were to say the budget deficit should be a priority over keeping benefits.
A majority of Republicans and Democrats said Medicare and Social Security have been "good for the country."
Lower income people are more committed to maintaining benefits across all three major entitlement programs.
The survey comes as Democrats and Republicans are arguing over reducing the deficit.
The poll was conducted June 15-19, among 1,502 U.S. adults, with an error rate of 3.5 percentage points.
