Harris Can Win on the Economy, but She Needs a Stronger Message

The New York Times ^ | Sept. 12, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET | Jedediah Britton-Purdy

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In Tuesday’s debate against Donald Trump, Kamala Harris emphasized her middle-class background, her admiration for small business owners and her plans for an “opportunity economy.” She promised tax credits for young families and support for first-time homeowners. Those attempts to put meat on the bones of her economic plan will not be enough to win the presidential election.

In the latest Times/Siena poll, Ms. Harris trailed Mr. Trump by 13 points on the economy, the issue that matters most to voters. It’s why she’s merely tied with Mr. Trump in the race overall, not crushing him.

Optimistic words and some admirable proposals aren’t enough to overcome the discontent and anger that large majorities of Americans feel about the economy. Ms. Harris must speak directly to this experience and advance a strong, coherent economic program for a freer, more fair economy.

Between broad phrases like “opportunity economy” and some policy talking points, she hasn’t found her footing on the economy yet. She sounded almost populist in North Carolina in August, mixing talk about the “dignity” of homeownership with denunciation of high prescription drug prices and calls for canceling medical debt. A few weeks later, in New Hampshire, she sounded more like the former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, promising to keep taxes on investment income significantly lower than President Biden recently proposed.

Ms. Harris needs a clearer economic message, one that can build a coalition big enough to win in November and break us out of our political stalemate. There is a way for her to do that, and she is already inching toward it.

[Magnum44]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

New message: “Ignore what your lying eyes told you the past 3-1/2 years. I am an outsider and know how to fix the mess I made as an insider.”

[faithhopecharity]

Harris win on the economy?????
Ridiculous !

The economy sukks and is getting harder and harder for most Americans as the Biden/Harris INFLATION raises the cost of living sky- high, especially groceries, diners, rent, housing, utilities, and insurance costs are beyond what many people can afford

[Tench_Coxe]

"Kamala Harris emphasized her middle-class background"

Westmount, Quebec is middle class?

[Nateman]

Did Hugo Chávez win on the economy? Or did he just steal his election?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Ms. Harris needs a clearer economic message...”

Nah, she simply needs to hire Naomi Wolf as a wardrobe consultant to dress her in some tweeds and maybe some elbow patches (flashback to 1999).

[Ronald77]

Only the NYT and their readers believe this bull sh*t.

[cgbg]

“Message” equals lying.

According to the Slimes she needs to lie better.

[McGavin999]

If she starts now she can come up with a valid economic policy by next February

[Dick Bachert]

KAMALA’S LIES!
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/miacathell/2024/09/11/kamala-presidential-debate-fact-check-n2644587

[Nateman]

[cymbeline]

She (more accurately the Biden administration) has already given us their message. We know how they ran the last 3.5 years.

She can give us promises and predictions, but there’s no basis for us to believe them. She’s stuck.

[RoosterRedux]

Harris is an idiot who thinks good sex is the secret to career success.

She doesn't know the difference between a tariff and a sales tax and a tax on unrealized capital gains.

She'll try to tax the money you save by being a careful shopper and give it to illegal immigrants so they can buy their groceries at a pet shop.

[joshua c]

its never the sucky policies

its just about the messaging about the sucky policies

[Swirl]

interpretation: bigger lies

[mass55th]

On whose economy? Certainly not hers and Joe’s these past 3+ years.

[FlingWingFlyer]

She needs to get a message before she can get a “stronger” message.

[kabar]

LOL. So how has Bidenomics worked out? Price controls on food?

[right way right]

She is evasive, her plan is bait and switch to get elected and then redistribute wealth.
Same old plan that harms us.

Trump says she has nothing.
He’s right.