The Democrats appear to have the votes in the Senate to block Bush's attempts at privatizing Social Security, but that's not stopping them from taking their case to the American people. The National Journal has the story:

Senate Democrats hope to use this week to block President Bush's Social Security public relations campaign, countering state visits by Bush, Cabinet members and congressional Republicans with a series of town hall meetings, roundtables and "real people press conferences," Democratic sources said. According to Senate aides, Minority Leader Harry Reid asked each member of the Senate Democratic Caucus to hold at least one event during this week's Presidents' Day recess focusing on Democratic charges that Bush's Social Security plan would reduce benefits and increase the national debt. In a memo sent to all 45 Democratic senators' press secretaries late last week, Reid aide Jim Manley warned staff that, "With the administration aggressively making their case to the American people through presidential visits and Cabinet secretary travel, it is important that we do our best to drive our message into the states when we can."

Manley outlined the types of events Senate Democrats could host, ranging from a traditional news conference to rolling out the party's "debt calculator" to the "real people press conference." At those, members of various age groups would be held up "to illustrate the serious questions -- benefit cuts in particular -- raised by the president's privatization proposal." Manley also provides talking points that mirror the recent shift in Democratic rhetoric away from denouncing Bush's argument that Social Security is facing a "crisis" to a willingness to "strengthen" the program.

Reid has done a fantastic job since taking over the reins of the Senate Democrats from Tom Daschle. With the distinct possibility that the Dems can pick up a Senate seat in Virginia of all places, maybe Reid has a shot -- however small -- at becoming Majority Leader...