Barack Obama may be trying to open an new issue front against John McCain in Florida—McCain’s support of President Bush’s 2005 proposal for partial privatization of Social Security.

The Obama campaign held seven meetings across Florida on Tuesday, some with big-name surrogates—California Sen. Barbara Boxer in Miami, for example—to bash McCain for supporting the proposal.

In 2005, Bush proposed letting younger workers divert part of their Social Security taxes to private accounts managed by the government and invested in the stock market. McCain supported the idea, which went nowhere even in the GOP-controlled Congress of the time.

On Tuesday, citing the recent market crash, the Obama supporters accused McCain of wanting to “gamble” with Social Security. McCain’s reponse is that private accounts should be part of a “conmprehensive reform” that addresses the long-term solvency of Social Security.

Obama ran ads on the issue in the Tampa Bay area, Miami and Palm Beach two weeks ago, but otherwise hasn’t sought to take advantage of it. That’s surprising, since the Bush proposal was so unpopular in Florida and in Congress. However, the idea was popular with some younger voters—people Obama has tried to court.

Maybe Obama sees the issue as a chance to put the election away by winning Florida, a state McCain can’t win without—even if some younger people in other states don’t agree with him.

Full story in tomorrow’s Tampa Tribune.

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