Harris Gains Momentum in Economic Debate, Closing in on Trump

[Social Media]

 

Vice President Kamala Harris is making notable strides with voters on the economy as the nation's economic outlook continues to improve. For months, the economy has consistently topped the list of concerns for voters, a sentiment confirmed by numerous polls. Ipsos polling described it as “the single most important issue to Americans since April 2024.” While Donald Trump has maintained a lead over both President Joe Biden and Harris on this issue, the gap is steadily narrowing.

 

In a recent poll conducted by Marist College, Harris was only trailing Trump by 3 percentage points among American adults when asked who would handle the economy better. In comparison, Biden trailed by 9 points in a similar poll from June. A Fox News poll revealed a 5-point deficit for Harris, while Biden was 15 points behind Trump in a March survey.

 

The reasons for the narrowing gap aren’t entirely clear, but one likely factor is the transition from Biden to Harris as the Democratic candidate. While both are tied to the administration’s economic record, Harris has emerged as a more effective communicator. She has invigorated Democrats and independent voters in a way that Biden, especially in recent months, had not. Biden’s underwhelming performance in his debate against Trump contributed to his exit from the race, whereas Harris was widely seen as having bested Trump in their own debate earlier this year.

 

Beyond political messaging, real economic factors may be working in Harris's favor. Inflation, which peaked in June 2022, has dropped dramatically, propelling the stock market to reach new highs. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's recent decision to slash interest rates signals confidence that inflation is under control. This reduction in borrowing costs is boosting businesses, households, and consumer confidence, all of which may improve Harris’s standing with voters.

 

Political analyst Nate Silver highlighted the improving economic data as a key factor benefiting Harris. He pointed out that positive economic reviews led to a boost in his economic index, which in turn has made Harris a slight favorite in the upcoming presidential race. “That helps Harris, too,” Silver noted.

 

Messaging from both candidates also plays a role. According to veteran pollster Frank Luntz, Trump’s approach to the economy has been faltering. Luntz criticized Trump’s inability to focus on affordability, a central issue for many American households. “Every time they gave him a question on inflation, he moved it to some other issue. Every time they gave him a chance to statistically and factually differentiate himself from the vice president, he chose to make ad hominem attacks. He couldn’t stay on message,” Luntz said on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.” As a result, Harris gained a 2-to-1 advantage in almost every survey following the debate.

 

Still, Trump remains focused on economic issues, particularly in the manufacturing and fossil fuel sectors. In a recent interview with Sharyl Attkisson, he addressed the decline in U.S. auto production, stating, “We’ve lost 50 percent of our business over the period of 25 years. A lot of it went to Mexico, a lot of it went to China... We’re going to get it back. We will be at a level that nobody thought possible with automaking.”

 

The economy, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and years of inflation, remains a central concern for American households. Many believe it will be the decisive issue in the 2024 election. Whether families in key swing states feel better off than they were four years ago remains an open question, but recent economic metrics show significant progress.

 

The U.S. economy grew by an impressive 3 percent in the second quarter of 2024, with the Commerce Department confirming the numbers last Thursday. In response, Lael Brainard, Director of the White House National Economic Council, issued a statement praising the Biden-Harris administration’s economic performance. “We learned this morning that the economy has grown by 3.2 percent per year during the Biden-Harris Administration — even stronger than previously estimated — and better than the first three years of the previous administration,” Brainard said, while acknowledging that more work remains to lower costs for families.

 

Meanwhile, inflation has dropped to its lowest level in years, with the personal consumption expenditures price index showing just a 2.2 percent annual increase. Employment remains strong, with 142,000 jobs added in August and the unemployment rate at 4.2 percent. Median household income has also risen for the first time since 2019, reaching $80,610 in 2023, a 4-percent increase from 2022.

 

As Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said in a recent interview, “Inflation has come way down [and] it did so without there being a recession, which has never happened before in the U.S. and virtually anywhere in the world. And now the unemployment rate has inched its way up to a level 4.2 [percent] that a lot of people thought ahead of time — that’s basically stable full employment. That’s where you’d want to stop.”

 

Despite these positive signs, Goolsbee cautioned that some warning signs remain. The Federal Reserve has begun cutting interest rates, and while previous rate cuts in 2020, 2008, and 2001 coincided with economic slowdowns, the massive stimulus provided during the pandemic could alter the usual economic patterns.

 

Based on a report from: The Hill 2024-10-01

 

 

 

[Tug]

It’s trumps stupid tariffs idea to start his proven history of lies + his managing to bankrupt a casino……..don’t help his image.Harris has real plans and will assemble the team to make it happen,plans that help workers not billionaires…..it’s time dump the albatross!

[SanSaiExPat]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Vice President Kamala Harris is making notable strides with voters on the economy as the nation's economic outlook continues to improve. For months, the economy has consistently topped the list of concerns for voters, a sentiment confirmed by numerous polls. Ipsos polling described it as “the single most important issue to Americans since April 2024.” While Donald Trump has maintained a lead over both President Joe Biden and Harris on this issue, the gap is steadily narrowing.

 

In a recent poll conducted by Marist College, Harris was only trailing Trump by 3 percentage points among American adults when asked who would handle the economy better. In comparison, Biden trailed by 9 points in a similar poll from June. A Fox News poll revealed a 5-point deficit for Harris, while Biden was 15 points behind Trump in a March survey.

 

The reasons for the narrowing gap aren’t entirely clear, but one likely factor is the transition from Biden to Harris as the Democratic candidate. While both are tied to the administration’s economic record, Harris has emerged as a more effective communicator. She has invigorated Democrats and independent voters in a way that Biden, especially in recent months, had not. Biden’s underwhelming performance in his debate against Trump contributed to his exit from the race, whereas Harris was widely seen as having bested Trump in their own debate earlier this year.

 

Beyond political messaging, real economic factors may be working in Harris's favor. Inflation, which peaked in June 2022, has dropped dramatically, propelling the stock market to reach new highs. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's recent decision to slash interest rates signals confidence that inflation is under control. This reduction in borrowing costs is boosting businesses, households, and consumer confidence, all of which may improve Harris’s standing with voters.

 

 

Political analyst Nate Silver highlighted the improving economic data as a key factor benefiting Harris. He pointed out that positive economic reviews led to a boost in his economic index, which in turn has made Harris a slight favorite in the upcoming presidential race. “That helps Harris, too,” Silver noted.

 

Messaging from both candidates also plays a role. According to veteran pollster Frank Luntz, Trump’s approach to the economy has been faltering. Luntz criticized Trump’s inability to focus on affordability, a central issue for many American households. “Every time they gave him a question on inflation, he moved it to some other issue. Every time they gave him a chance to statistically and factually differentiate himself from the vice president, he chose to make ad hominem attacks. He couldn’t stay on message,” Luntz said on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.” As a result, Harris gained a 2-to-1 advantage in almost every survey following the debate.

 

Still, Trump remains focused on economic issues, particularly in the manufacturing and fossil fuel sectors. In a recent interview with Sharyl Attkisson, he addressed the decline in U.S. auto production, stating, “We’ve lost 50 percent of our business over the period of 25 years. A lot of it went to Mexico, a lot of it went to China... We’re going to get it back. We will be at a level that nobody thought possible with automaking.”

 

The economy, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and years of inflation, remains a central concern for American households. Many believe it will be the decisive issue in the 2024 election. Whether families in key swing states feel better off than they were four years ago remains an open question, but recent economic metrics show significant progress.

 

The U.S. economy grew by an impressive 3 percent in the second quarter of 2024, with the Commerce Department confirming the numbers last Thursday. In response, Lael Brainard, Director of the White House National Economic Council, issued a statement praising the Biden-Harris administration’s economic performance. “We learned this morning that the economy has grown by 3.2 percent per year during the Biden-Harris Administration — even stronger than previously estimated — and better than the first three years of the previous administration,” Brainard said, while acknowledging that more work remains to lower costs for families.

 

Meanwhile, inflation has dropped to its lowest level in years, with the personal consumption expenditures price index showing just a 2.2 percent annual increase. Employment remains strong, with 142,000 jobs added in August and the unemployment rate at 4.2 percent. Median household income has also risen for the first time since 2019, reaching $80,610 in 2023, a 4-percent increase from 2022.

 

As Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said in a recent interview, “Inflation has come way down [and] it did so without there being a recession, which has never happened before in the U.S. and virtually anywhere in the world. And now the unemployment rate has inched its way up to a level 4.2 [percent] that a lot of people thought ahead of time — that’s basically stable full employment. That’s where you’d want to stop.”

 

Despite these positive signs, Goolsbee cautioned that some warning signs remain. The Federal Reserve has begun cutting interest rates, and while previous rate cuts in 2020, 2008, and 2001 coincided with economic slowdowns, the massive stimulus provided during the pandemic could alter the usual economic patterns.

 

Based on a report from: The Hill 2024-10-01

 

 

 

Whoever wrote this is smoking some heavy narcotics and is pathetically trying to mislead and influence American's that have been away from home for a while as nothing the writing says is true.  President Trump will sweep the election and win unless the deep state is successful in assassinating him.

[soalbundy]

36 minutes ago, Tug said:

It’s trumps stupid tariffs idea to start his proven history of lies + his managing to bankrupt a casino……..don’t help his image.Harris has real plans and will assemble the team to make it happen,plans that help workers not billionaires…..it’s time dump the albatross!

The whole world is in financial turmoil, the factories are there, the office space is there, the workers are there, only the consumer is missing, too much debt and no energy security. A painful reset is needed but where from? I fear that wars, revolutions and extreme internal strive will have to be the catalyst before intelligent solutions are found, our foundations are built on sand and the house will be in danger no matter who the owner is, solutions can only be found world wide together but we aren't there yet, as usual, destruction, misery and millions of dead will first have to happen before the neolithic brain decides enough is enough.

[mdr224]

Block out the noise. This election comes down to one thing, are things better now than four years ago? If not, time for a change

[spidermike007]

He is extremely desperate and he is in the beginning stages of severe cognitive decline and it's a horrific thing to watch, he's an increasingly dangerous man and having him as the oldest elected president in history would not be a good thing. He rambles on and on, and it is easy to discern that he has a very hard time maintaining a thought for more than 15 seconds. He is, and has always been the master of slogans, and memes, but the public is just getting tired of the same game, day in and day out. He does not possess the creative juice to adapt, and that is absolutely killing his campaign, at this point. He is headed for the greatest humiliation of his lifetime.

 

He's old, he's tired, he's now the oldest person to ever run for president, he's feels like he's 85 or 90 right now, he seems to be losing interest, he seems to be losing the plot, his message is getting tired, he has no ability to dance on his feet and be creative, and adapt, and he just seems to be disintegrating before our eyes, which is a beautiful thing to watch.

 

They're eating the dogs. 

They're eating the cats. 

They're taking your pets! 

 

[Thingamabob]

Journalists are paid to fill news space with this kind of article. In fact it is far from clear which of Harris or Trump is the favourite to win on November 5.

[Hanaguma]

Interesting timing. The latest poll numbers from the swing states show an impending disaster for Harris. Trump is leading overall in the 'big seven'.  Just by a smidgen, but leading.  

[mdr224]

8 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Interesting timing. The latest poll numbers from the swing states show an impending disaster for Harris. Trump is leading overall in the 'big seven'.  Just by a smidgen, but leading.  

If the polls show him in a slight lead, then the result will be a landslide

[mfd101]

What is fascinating is to watch a supposedly 'right-wing' character (Trump) who supposedly believes in the virtues of unrestrained capitalism & free markets, but now advocating for high tariff barriers against the rest of the world.

 

Which is a SOCIALIST gambit if ever it was. Tried MANY times through the C20th and failed EVERY time.

[impulse]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

In a recent poll conducted by Marist College, Harris was only trailing Trump by 3 percentage points among American adults when asked who would handle the economy better.

 

They left out the x.

 

[Hanaguma]

23 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

What is fascinating is to watch a supposedly 'right-wing' character (Trump) who supposedly believes in the virtues of unrestrained capitalism & free markets, but now advocating for high tariff barriers against the rest of the world.

 

Which is a SOCIALIST gambit if ever it was. Tried MANY times through the C20th and failed EVERY time.

I agree. Understandable that Biden and Harris kept many of the tariffs, isnt it? But I think she never knew about that- it was a big surprise when a reporter brought it up to her. 

 

To be fair, Trump was never really right wing. He is more of a populist than anything. Lots of classic Democratic party ideas from the 60s and 70s thrown in.