By SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Amid debate over candidates’ bankruptcies and missed mortgage payments, the future of Social Security and Medicare has become a key topic in Connecticut’s close Senate race, and seniors are being seen as a crucial voting bloc.

On Thursday, Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy told seniors in Hartford that his Republican rival, Linda McMahon, wants to “phase out” Social Security. He was referring to comments McMahon made in April about supporting “sunset provisions” to review legislation like Social Security.

Murphy contends those comments mean McMahon would allow the program to expire, calling that “disastrous.” But Todd Abrajano , campaign spokesman for McMahon, said Murphy’s claim is “absolutely, unequivocally untrue” and McMahon only supports reviewing a program after 10 or 15 years.

The AARP reports there are 622,167 Social Security beneficiaries in Connecticut.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)