Better Off With Harris? 42% Of Americans Say Yes, Outpacing Trump In Economic Trust

Vice President Kamala Harris has overtaken former President Donald Trump in public trust on economic matters, marking a change in voter sentiment following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.

According to a new poll conducted for the Financial Times and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, 42% of Americans trust Harris more to handle the economy, compared to 41% for Trump. This is the first time in nearly a year of tracking that the Democratic candidate has led on the issue.

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Harris’s 42% represents a 7-point jump from Biden’s numbers in July, while Trump’s figures remained unchanged. Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan, told the Financial Times, “The fact that voters were more positive on Harris than on Biden says as much about how badly Biden was doing as it does about how well Harris is doing.”

The poll results come against a backdrop of strong U.S. economic growth and employment figures. However, inflation remains a top concern for voters heading into the November election. Only 19% of respondents believe they are better off today than when Biden took office in 2021.

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Interestingly, the survey suggests Harris may have an opportunity to distance herself from Biden’s economic policies. Sixty percent of those polled said she should break completely from the president’s approach or make major changes to his platform.

Despite the apparent advantage, underlying economic unease could still benefit Trump. One in four registered voters rated current economic conditions as “excellent” or “good.” More than that, 42% believe they would be better off if Trump won another term, compared to 33% who feel they would fare better under a Harris presidency.

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The former president also maintains an edge on specific issues like trade relations with China, leading Harris 43% to 39%.

Thomas Gift, an associate Professor of Political Science at University College London, emphasized the significance of the numbers to Newsweek, saying, “If Donald Trump can’t win on the key issues that have buoyed his candidacy the whole campaign season – specifically, the economy and the cost of living crisis – then his chances of winning are bleak.” 

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Both candidates must address voters’ economic concerns as the campaign progresses. With 53% of Americans citing jobs and cost of living as their top issues, the candidate who can convince the electorate of their economic acumen may have the upper hand come November.

The FT-Michigan Ross Poll, conducted online from Aug. 1-5, reflects the opinions of 1,001 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

According to the latest poll conducted by Quantus Polls and News between Aug. 7 and 8, Harris holds a narrow lead over Trump in the general election. The survey of 1,000 registered voters shows that Harris had 47% of the vote, edging out Trump by 1%, who garnered 46%. 

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