Skip to content

Subscriber Only

Obama Urges Social Security Increase in Preview of Campaign Role

Reversal from 2011 Obama support for cuts in benefit growth
Unifies Obama Social Security stance with Sanders and Clinton

Bloomberg business news — Obama 'Itching' to Get on Campaign Trail

By

Sahil Kapur and

June 1, 2016, 9:13 PM UTCUpdated onJune 1, 2016, 11:13 PM UTC

President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for an increase in Social Security benefits for the elderly as he hit the road with a speech that previewed his role as campaigner-in-chief for Democrats ahead of the November election.

The president’s comments mark a reversal after he sought a bipartisan deal five years ago that would have cut Social Security and move the Democratic Party toward a unified stance on the nation’s cornerstone retirement program.