Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is once again showing his dominance over Vice President Kamala Harris when it comes to the critical issue of the economy. A recent CNN poll reveals that Trump consistently outpaces Harris in key swing states, which are the true battlegrounds for the upcoming election. This shouldn’t come as a shock, considering that voters generally prioritize the economy more than pretty much anything else—by a hefty margin of 20 to 30 points, no less.
The swing states in question—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are the electoral heart of the country. As political experts have noted, if Trump manages to snag even one of the big three states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, or Wisconsin—Harris’s hopes for claiming the presidency through those precious 270 electoral votes could go up in smoke faster than a barbecue on a hot summer day.
CNN Polls: Trump Clobbers Harris in Every Swing State on the Economy https://t.co/9D3uqFTW0i pic.twitter.com/hMLCBW71Ug
— FutureTrump2️⃣⏺2️⃣4⃣🍊 (@RealTrump2020_) September 4, 2024
In the head-to-head polling in Arizona, Trump enjoys a 15-point lead, with 52% of voters trusting him over Harris’ 37%. The numbers in other states are similar, with Trump consistently holding the upper hand. Even in the tight race in Georgia and Wisconsin, where he leads by just 4 and 2 points respectively, the indicators suggest that voters are leaning towards the former president as their economic steward of choice. This paints a rather dismal picture for Harris as she steps into a spotlight that seems more like a dim bulb than a shining beacon of hope.
Despite her role as the Democrats’ new torchbearer, Harris has yet to dethrone Trump when it comes to economic trustworthiness, trailing him by an average of 8 points across the sampled states. This is quite the indictment for a party that has spent nearly two years blaming Trump for the current economic woes, despite the fact that the economy actually registered a staggering growth of 33.4% in the third quarter of 2020, just before Biden assumed the presidency. It seems facts about the economy have a funny way of getting lost in all the political kerfuffle.
On top of all this, Harris may have her work cut out for her in other areas too. While her party appears to be stamping its foot on “abortion rights” in a bid for women’s support, they’re still lagging behind Trump on the economic trust scales. Voters across these states see Harris’s positions as more mainstream but seem to think she offers little in terms of substantive plans compared to Trump, who comes across as the decisive leader with clearer strategies. This contradiction leaves Harris in a sticky spot, juggling progressive ideologies while trying to win over the fiscally-minded electorate.
As voters gear up for the upcoming election, it’s clear that issues like rising food prices and overall economic uncertainty are likely to weigh heavily on their minds. With an increase in the cost of living for everything from fresh vegetables to good ol’ American hot dogs, ordinary Americans are keenly aware of who they believe can tackle these problems effectively. As it stands, the economy remains a central focus, and Trump has effectively positioned himself as the candidate best trusted to handle it—even as his opponent struggles to overcome the trust deficit.
