With just over six weeks to go until Election Day, public opinion polls suggest that the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump is neck and neck in the key battleground states. Harris holds an advantage on the issue of abortion, while Trump leads in handling the border and immigration. The economy remains the top issue for American voters as they prepare to cast their ballots, with nearly eight in ten citing it as one of their top concerns. Inflation remains a leading worry for Americans, with increasing numbers expressing concern over grocery prices and housing costs.
Despite the ongoing economic recovery from the pandemic-induced recession, voters seem to have mixed feelings about which candidate can better handle the economy. While Trump maintains an edge over Harris in several polls, the margins vary significantly. Trump’s advantage over Harris on the economy ranges from 2 to 13 points in different surveys. The perception that Trump’s policies were more helpful to the economy than Biden’s policies creates a significant advantage for Trump, but Harris has been focusing on messaging regarding housing costs and taxes targeting the middle class to chip away at Trump’s lead.
Overall, the issue profile of the election seems to favor Trump, with voters remembering his tenure in the White House more fondly in terms of economic policies. However, Harris has been working to emphasize a message of “turning the page” in an attempt to counteract this advantage. The strong memories of Trump’s economic policies and the perception that they were more beneficial than Biden’s policies create challenges for Harris in the campaign. As early voting and absentee balloting are underway in many states, the economy remains a key topic on voters’ minds with the issue of inflation particularly concerning to many Americans.
In a post-debate survey conducted after the first debate between Harris and Trump, the economy was identified as the most pressing issue by 39% of voters, surpassing immigration and abortion by a significant margin. The Fox News poll also highlighted that a majority of voters believed Trump’s economic policies were more helpful than harmful, while Biden’s policies were seen as more hurtful than helpful. Harris has been focusing on messaging targeting the middle class in terms of housing costs and taxes, which appears to be paying off in narrowing Trump’s lead on economic issues.
While the race between Harris and Trump remains competitive in the key battleground states, the economy continues to dominate the focus of American voters as they prepare to cast their ballots in the upcoming election. As the economic recovery from the pandemic-induced recession progresses, concerns over inflation, grocery prices, and housing costs remain at the forefront for many Americans. Trump holds an advantage over Harris in several polls when it comes to handling the economy, but Harris has been working to chip away at this lead by focusing on messaging aimed at the middle class. The outcome of the election may hinge on which candidate is perceived as better equipped to address the economic challenges facing the country.
