WASHINGTON • Conservatives in Congress aren't the only ones taking heat in the brewing fights over cutting Medicare and popular government programs.
A coalition of liberal groups is telling Democratic senators in Missouri and three other states who are up for re-election next year that signing on to such cuts would be perilous to their political futures.
The groups -- Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org and Credo Action --commissioned polls suggesting strongly that cuts in key entitlements would be unwelcome with voters.
In Missouri, a poll conducted by PPP, a Democratic-aligned polling firm, showed that cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would be especially unpopular.
The poll in Missouri of 1,050 likely voters found that 19 percent would support reducing Medicare expenditures while 77 percent opposed Medicare trims.
The survey question was phrased this way: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Medicare, which is the government health insurance program for the elderly?
A similar question on Medicaid found that 32 percent would support cuts to reduce the national debt while 63 percent would oppose them. For Social Security, 17 percent would support cuts; 76 percent oppose them.
Stephanie Taylor, co-founder othe Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement: "Senator McCaskill should not support needless compromises on these issues and instead go on the offense by investing in jobs and making oil companies, Wall Street and the rich pay their fair share in taxes."
Similar polls are being distributed this week aimed at Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Jon Tester of Montana.
The polls underscore the difficulties faced by members of Congress seeking spending cuts prior to an approaching vote over raising the nation's debt ceiling.
All but four House Republicans supported a plan crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., that would essentially privatize Medicare.
Last week, former House Speaker and 2012 presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich felt considerable blowback from his Republican Party after labeling the Ryan plan "radical change" and "right-wing social engineering." Gingrich later apologized.
Today, Sen. Scott Brown, R-Massachusetts, broke with his party and said he would oppose the Medicare overhaul in the Senate. Brown is seeking election next year for a full term in the seat he won in a 2010 special election.
McCaskill has been among moderate Democrats in the Senate seeking budget cuts. But Medicare is unlikely to be among her targets.
"We've got to cut spending, but we also have to protect Medicare," she told a Fox News interviewer earlier this month.
Editors: This replaces an earlier version that incorrectly stated how Scott Brown arrived in the Senate.
