PORTLAND (AP) – Three out of four Mainers believe that Social Security “has major problems” or is “in crisis,” but most prefer the current system to the changes proposed by President Bush, according to a statewide poll released Thursday.

The Strategic Marketing Services poll found that 68 percent of those surveyed would continue the program’s guaranteed monthly benefits while 24.5 percent would allow younger workers to decide how some of their own contributions are invested.

When asked if they would invest some of their Social Security money in the stock market, respondents answered in the negative, 67 percent to 29 percent.

Younger Mainers – those in the 18 to 34 age group – were more open to change, with 45.5 percent saying they were willing to put some of their Social Security money in the market.

There was near-unanimous agreement that Social Security faces problems, but respondents differed on the severity. Eighteen percent said the program was “in crisis,” 53 percent said it has “major problems, but is not in crisis,” 18 percent said the problems were minor and 3.5 percent said there were no problems.

The Strategic Marketing Services omnibus poll, released the day after President Bush’s State of the Union speech that detailed the need for a Social Security overhaul, touched on a broad range of issues, including Iraq, the economy, same-sex marriage, seat belts and Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The quarterly poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, was based on telephone interviews with 400 randomly selected adults between Jan. 24 and Jan. 29.

Disapproval of Bush’s policy in Iraq continued to mount, although the poll was completed one day prior to the Iraqi elections that even some policy critics have hailed as a success.

Bush’s handling of the Iraq situation was endorsed by 33.5 percent of those surveyed, while 59 percent expressed disapproval. Forty-eight percent said the Iraq war increases the risk of further terrorism at home, while 31 percent said the risk is lower because of the war.

There was a 7 percent increase since September in the number of Mainers who feel the state’s economy is generally headed “in the right direction,” putting the figure at 35 percent. However, a plurality – 48 percent – said the economy is going the wrong way. Seventeen percent didn’t know.

Gov. John Baldacci, now at the midpoint of his four-year term, had a combined 72.5 percent positive rating, with 49 percent listing “somewhat favorable” and 23.5 percent “very favorable.” Negative opinion broke down as 14.5 percent responding “somewhat unfavorable” and 10 percent “very unfavorable.”

There was little change since September in Baldacci’s job performance rating, with 60 percent characterizing it as good. A combined 29 percent chose “not so good” or “poor,” while 7 percent said it was excellent.

Only 3 percent said raising taxes was the preferred solution to Maine’s budget deficit, although 59 percent opted for a combination of higher taxes and budget cuts. Thirty-six percent preferred budget cuts alone.

Of those indicating a willingness to raise taxes, 36 percent said the sales tax was the preferred tax to increase. Corporate taxes came in second, at 13 percent, followed by taxes on cigarettes and alcohol (8 percent), personal income tax (7 percent) and excise tax (6 percent).

There was 64 percent support for strengthening Maine’s seat belt law, a measure proposed by Baldacci; 34.5 percent were opposed.

Support for full marriage rights for same-sex couples came in at 37.5 percent, up from 30 percent last March. Thirty-one percent backed civil unions but not gay marriage, down from 35.5 percent in the previous poll. Twenty-seven percent opposed any legal recognition, the stance taken by 32 percent in March.

There was strong support – 84 percent – for Baldacci’s Dirigo Health Program to provide affordable health coverage to small businesses and families. Eleven percent opposed the program.

The same kind of lopsided majority was also recorded on the question regarding the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Seventy-nine percent said the New England Patriots will win, 5.5 percent chose the Philadelphia Eagles and 15.5 percent were undecided.

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