As the election draws closer, issues involving the economy lie at the center of most voters' attention. The battle between both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for the people's attention could tilt on how each perceives addressing the economy as they seek to win the election.
Trump, now back on social media platforms, first opened renewed debates over whether Americans are better off now compared to his tenure as president. That question speaks deeply to voter sentiment, especially among those who have been hard-hit by inflation recently.
Harris is now the Democratic candidate, trying to make an appeal to voters through policy prescriptions that lighten financial burdens on people. Her latest pledges on expanding child tax credits and fighting price gouging show her aggressive nature. She's picking specific policies that will resonate with everyday Americans and creating a new narrative away from the challenges of the current administration.
Though economic indicators, like the growth in jobs and a decline in the inflation rate, turn out to be positive, most voters still doubt. The perception of high prices overshadows such statistics and frustrates people. Obviously, although the economy might be recovering in some ways, the reality of everyday expenses directly impacts people's feelings about their financial situation.
This unhappiness opens up an avenue for Trump.
He can ride in on people's dissatisfaction with the economy to help regain his momentum. But so far in recent speeches, he has shown a tendency to get off message as he veers into personal attacks and other issues that may turn off undecided voters.
On the other side, the fact that Harris can convince people to move beyond her past as vice president may work in her favor. There is no doubt that during the primaries, she had major problems with visibility. Keeping her present campaign free from insinuations regarding Biden's policies makes her quite effective because it allows for new ideas to be proffered. Thus, separation could grab the attention of voters feeling disillusioned with the status quo.
These views on the economy are convoluted. One portion of the voters attributes high prices to general global occurrences such as the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, etc., while others seem to have partly laid blame on the current leadership. This division very clearly shows that voters are not monolithic in view, hence, each candidate has a delicate task of trying to please them all.
Direct engagement by politicians such as Harris in this sphere is very important in connecting political rhetoric with public concerns. She wants to establish trust and credibility for her speeches on the everyday struggles of Americans. On the other hand, Trump will have to fine-tune his message if he is to connect with people for whom economic stability trumps personal grievances.
The interesting thing now will be how each candidate tinkers with their approach to what is already a very hot campaign. After all, the economic narrative is both about statistics and experiences. Knowing this, it's going to be important for Trump and Harris to win hearts and minds in an election.