In their first joint interview, airing Sunday on 60 Minutes, the freshly-minted Republican presidential ticket push back on Democratic claims that they are out to destroy the social safety net -- and take pains to reassure seniors they're not interested in touching their benefits.

A preview from CBS News, quoting Mitt Romney:

"What Paul Ryan and I have talked about is saving Medicare, is providing people greater choice in Medicare, making sure it's there for current seniors. No changes, by the way, for current seniors, or those nearing retirement. But looking for young people down the road and saying, "We're going to give you a bigger choice." In America, the nature of this country has been giving people more freedom, more choices. That's how we make Medicare work down the road."

Paul Ryan's GOP budget plan would change Medicare into a voucher system for those 55 years of age and younger, a structure Democrats have derided as fundamentally altering the Medicare guarantee. Video: