The Maine Democratic Party highlighted a new study today that contends that U.S. Sen. John McCain's support for the privatization of social security would cut lifetime benefits for Maine residents and force some of them to live in poverty.

At a Portland press conference held on the 73rd anniversary of the Social Security system, Democrats pointed to a recent study by the Campaign for America's Future, a liberal think tank.

The organization concluded that privatizing social security would reduce lifetime benefits for Maine residents by $141,800 and reduce the income of 62,000 senior citizens below the federal poverty line.

McCain has said he supports social security reform and would consider giving Americans the chance to create personal investment accounts as a supplementary measure.

A spokesman for the McCain presidential campaign described the Democrats' statements as an election year scare tactic.

"Democrat demagoguery notwithstanding, John McCain recognizes the vital importance of Social Security to America's seniors," said regional spokesman Jeff Grappone. "That's why he is committed to working with Congress in a bipartisan way to safeguard the program without reducing benefits for those nearing retirement."