The head of Senate Republicans' campaign efforts sent a memo to GOP Senate candidates Wednesday, warning them of withering Democratic attacks and advising how to best ward off criticism related to the debt ceiling.



Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), warned candidates to brace for Democratic efforts to place the blame on Republican candidates if the government defaults on its debt and, as a result, halts payment of Social Security checks or other government benefits.



Cornyn told the candidates to keep the blame squarely on the Obama administration, which, the Texas Republican said, could easily guarantee the continued flow of Social Security benefits. President Obama's warning that checks could cease in case of a default was just a scare tactic, Cornyn charged.



"[T]he decision to stop sending Social Security checks, or other benefits lies solely with the Obama Administration," Cornyn wrote to the GOP candidates.



The idea that seniors might not see their checks as a result of a default is meant to drive home with voters the need for an agreement, as their benefits might be threatened if the administration and GOP leaders can't reach a deal.



“The possibility that seniors could be denied Social Security benefits is frightening," said Sen. Patty Murray, the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, in response. "Rather than accuse the President of scare tactics, my Republican colleagues should tell the extreme voices in their own party that it is time to act responsibly."

Cornyn's memo is meant to prepare Republicans for the eventual criticism Democrats would level toward their campaigns in case of default. The NRSC chairman, though, lined up a series of talking points for candidates, including emphasizing the ballooned deficits during Obama's time in office and Senate Democrats' not having passed a budget in more than 800 days.



"[A]as negotiations between the two parties moves forward, we would not be surprised to see Democrats continue to use any and every tool such as this to increase our country’s credit card limit, while passing job-killing tax hikes on to American families and small businesses," Cornyn wrote.





—Updated 10:41 a.m.

