Kamala Harris has faced skepticism from voters about her ability to tackle a key economic issue: inflation.
A recent YouGov poll found that just 29% of respondents think Harris would do a better job of dealing with inflation than Donald Trump, while 43% say they would trust the former president more.
Kamala Harris’ nomination has not yet been officially announced, but she is expected to be the Democratic nominee, having secured enough delegate support to win the 2024 election.
According to June data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national inflation rate over the 12-month period was 3%, but some areas, such as Honolulu (5.2%) and Dallas-Fort Worth (5%), are facing higher price increases. Newsweek previously reported that some Americans are cutting back on vacation and entertainment expenses to pay their bills as gas and electricity costs remain higher than they will be in 2023.
Andrew Rowe, a senior lecturer in American politics at the University of Kent in the UK, told Newsweek magazine, “Americans are still suffering the effects of the high inflation of recent years, which has created a cost-of-living crisis. In other words, prices are rising faster than wages, and people are continuing to feel the effects in their pockets.”
Lowe believes inflation will be a factor in the next presidential election, with a Harvard University poll showing that inflation is a priority for young voters when choosing a president.
Confidence in Harris’s ability to fight inflation was higher among Democrats, with 63% saying she would do a better job than Trump, while 86% of Republicans supported former president Harris on the issue, more than Democrats.
The poll also found that when it comes to inflation, 51% of men trust Trump more than Harris. The percentage of women who trust Trump more is lower (36%), but that’s still higher than the percentage of women who trust Harris more (32%). Trump also leads among all age groups, with 51% of those 65 and older approving of him on the issue of inflation.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024. A new poll finds that voters are more likely to trust Trump than Harris to fight inflation. US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024. A new poll finds that voters are more likely to trust Trump than Harris to fight inflation. Details: Erin Schaff/AFP via Getty Images
Harris’ current lack of support on the issue of inflation doesn’t necessarily translate into a loss in the election: Law told Newsweek that “immigration, the general perception of a weak economy, and Trump’s personality” are likely to “take a more prominent place” in voters’ minds.
The YouGov poll asked respondents about other topics and found that Harris also received lower approval than Trump on her ability to tackle immigration, crime and foreign policy. Only 28% of respondents said they had confidence in her leadership skills, and more than 43% said they thought she was less competent than Trump.
Harris came in top on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, the environment, health care and education, and was seen as more compassionate, honest and less arrogant and reckless than Trump.
The survey, conducted just days before Biden announced he was dropping out of the presidential race, found that 57% of respondents would support Harris if Biden were to drop out of the race.
Three separate polls this month showed her narrowly ahead of Trump, providing good news for Harris, though they were conducted before Biden left office.
As a result of Biden’s withdrawal, Republicans have lost one of their biggest arguments against the Democratic candidate: age. At 81, Biden is three years older than Trump, while Harris turns 60 in October.
“Suddenly, most of the Republicans’ most promising lines of attack are irrelevant. Harris has weaknesses, but they are not as strong as Biden’s. The campaign is back on track,” Law said.
Have a story we should feature? Have a question about this article? Contact us at LiveNews@newsweek.com.
Rare knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
