Trump and Harris battle over election’s biggest issue

Donald Trump has made a return to social media after nearly a year away, and he is using his platform to engage with his 89 million followers. This week, he posed a thought-provoking question: 'Are you better off now than you were when I was president? ' This question echoes a famous line from Ronald Reagan during his successful 1980 presidential campaign, where he asked voters a similar question. Trump's focus on the economy is not surprising, as polls consistently show that it is the top concern for American voters. A recent poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov revealed that 'inflation/prices' and 'jobs and the economy' are among the primary worries for voters. Furthermore, many voters are unhappy with the current economic situation, which presents a favorable opportunity for any presidential challenger. However, the political landscape has shifted since Kamala Harris took over as the Democratic candidate, and Trump appears to be struggling to effectively communicate his straightforward message about the economy. Just a month ago, he was on stage at the Republican National Convention, looking strong and confident after surviving an assassination attempt and enjoying high approval ratings. Now, he has lost that momentum and seems to be losing his direction. In contrast, Harris is experiencing a surge of enthusiasm and support that Trump finds challenging to counter. One effective way for Trump to undermine her support would be to remind voters of their dissatisfaction with rising prices and hold her accountable for the inflation that has increased the cost of living during her time in the White House alongside President Biden. Recently, Harris delivered a speech in North Carolina where she outlined her plans to address the cost of living. She promised to expand child tax credits, assist first-time homebuyers, and promote the construction of more affordable housing. Additionally, she expressed her intention to combat the high prices of food and groceries by banning 'price gouging' or excessive corporate profits. Harris stated, 'By any measure, our economy is the strongest in the world,' but she acknowledged that many Americans do not yet feel the benefits of this progress in their everyday lives. Despite positive economic indicators such as strong growth, record job creation, and a recent drop in the inflation rate below 3% for the first time during Biden's presidency, voters still feel burdened by high prices. They are less concerned about the inflation rate itself and more focused on the actual prices they encounter. Jared Bernstein, the chair of President Biden's Council of Economic Advisers, highlighted this sentiment in a July speech, saying, 'A central banker wants inflation to get back to target. A shopper wants his or her old price back. ' This illustrates the disconnect between economic statistics and the lived experiences of everyday Americans. During a recent lunch at a crab shack on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, I spoke with voters about their feelings regarding the economy. Jeff Tester, who works at a nearby marina, expressed his frustration with high prices, stating, 'I get paid by the hour. I get up to go to work every day. I think you have to do that to get the American dream. But I just know it's getting harder. ' Tester is clear about who he holds responsible for his struggles: 'I blame the Democrats. I believe their policies are hurting the working man. ' While many diners I spoke with shared concerns about inflation, not everyone placed the blame solely on Biden or Harris. Dan Nardo, a retired boat broker, suggested that factors such as the pandemic, oil prices, foreign conflicts, and supply chain issues are more significant contributors to rising prices than the actions of the current administration. His friend Randy Turk, a retired lawyer, expressed skepticism about whether either presidential candidate could make a meaningful difference in addressing inflation, stating, 'It's not like a different president can really make that much of a difference. ' Kamala Harris has faced challenges in gaining media attention during her time as vice president, which was previously viewed as a disadvantage. However, this may now work to her advantage, as it allows her to distance herself from the negative perceptions associated with 'Bidenomics. ' Ruth Igielnik, a polling editor at the New York Times, noted that recent data suggests voters are linking their negative feelings about the economy to Joe Biden. In her polling, Trump still holds an advantage on economic issues, but his lead over Biden has narrowed significantly. A separate poll conducted for the Financial Times and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business indicated that Harris has a slight edge over Trump in terms of who Americans trust to manage the economy. This has led Republicans to publicly urge Trump to concentrate on economic issues and refrain from personal attacks against Harris. In a recent speech, Trump stated he would focus on the economy but struggled to stay on topic, veering off into discussions about immigration, crime, and Harris's laughter. This has likely left his campaign managers feeling exasperated, as they understand that voters are primarily concerned with economic issues. Matt Terrill, a former chief of staff for Marco Rubio's presidential campaign, emphasized that independent and undecided voters in key states care about the economy and inflation, urging Trump to focus on these core issues. He advised, 'Stay focused on talking about how you are going to make the lives of Americans better over the next four years. ' The phrase 'It's the economy, stupid' was coined by Democrat Jim Carville during Bill Clinton's campaign in 1992, and it has remained a guiding principle for political campaigns ever since. However, Trump seems to be struggling to adhere to this crucial message. According to a Financial Times poll, only 19% of voters believe they are better off now than they were during Trump's presidency, indicating that he has significant work ahead of him to regain voter support.