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.

[Jonny7797]

oh please, maybe she wins over the brain dead morons living in mom’s basement but anyone who buys gas and food know

[Paladin2]

She needs to implement her Brilliant Plan NOW!

Then we can get a preview on its benefits.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

So, she was raised a middle-class kid and she is the only one in the room with a plan. /s

This would be Biden 2.0, or Obama 4.0. How does anyone expect she would be any better?

[pierrem15]

It’s hard to tell now when the media is simply lying or is simply deluded. Probably both.

[Fledermaus]

ROFL

The NYT has become the Bee.

[mass55th]

"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)."

I'm a 77 year old female, and remember wearing tweed, houndstooth, and solid colored jackets and sweaters with suede elbow patches way before 1999. For my high school junior picture in 1964, I wore a long-sleeve, cream-colored knit sweater with olive green trim that zipped up the front. It had olive green suede patches on the elbows. I think elbow patches have been a regular recurring fashion trend.

I was around for the comeback of bell bottom pants in the 60's, madras blouses, mohair sweaters, Nehru jackets, Dr. Ben Casey blouses, multilayered crinolines to wear under skirts, poodle skirts, wrap-around skirts, hip-pleated skirts, A-line skirts, jumpers, culottes, textured stockings, etc. from those days. In the late 60's or early 70's, it was custom for women to wear ties (similar to men's ties) with tie pins in them. I had plenty of them, and tie pins as well.

[econjack]

Does the NYT think we are all dead? Anyone who can fog a mirror knows what’s happening to prices, especially food and housing. Why can’t the Old Gray Lady tell the truth?

[HYPOCRACY]

“You see, small businesses are small and the middle class is in the middle. Like 6th grade is the middle class and small business is a lemonade stand. The US is made up of lemonade stands run by 6th graders and I admire that.”

-Kamala Harris 2023

[patriotspride]

Harris at rally. Sounding like Howard Dean. Ranting and revealing nothing new other than her lies at the debate

All Trump hate, no real meat .

[ProtectOurFreedom]

LOL...you are four years older than me and remember your high school clothes like yesterday. I’m male and don’t remember ANYTHING about my clothes back then. About the only thing I remember is that mom would not let me wear blue jeans. I don’t think I wore anything BUT jeans throughout my entire college career.

Just don’t ask me about that micro-mini dress that Candy wore the day we ditched school in our senior spring, May 1969 ;>)

[dforest]

Never ever trust a democrat that says they are going to help the middle class.

They are purposefully destroying the middle class. They always lie about this every time.

[GaltAdonis]

Yeah, yeah, “price controls on Food”!

Folks won’t vote for Trump because they are too busy chasing cats or squirrels!
Or else too busy starving to death to care one ensued little bit who wins the ‘election’!
Yeah, that’s the ticket!

[GaltAdonis]

Correction: I have no idea why autocorrect inserted ‘ensued’ into my post.
I hate autocorrect. Really, I do.

[kiryandil]

[MortMan]

She needs a stronger economy!

[goodolemr]

VP Harris needs a different message, a different platform, and a different governing philosophy to win on the economy

[sheehan]

Kumala has no understanding of basic economics, what a terrible messenger...

plus, she’s never had a real job, and is the cause of current inflation and malaise we’re in

[jpp113]

She’s going to create an “opportunity economy” out of unicorn farts and rainbow dust. What’s wrong with that? /s

[tsowellfan]

“Message” equals lying.

Exactly!

[packagingguy]

The NYT’s lies go back a long way:

How ‘The New York Times’ Helped Hide Stalin’s Mass Murders in Ukraine

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/walter-duranty-ukraine-new-york-times-mr-jones-agnieszka-holland

It’s hard to understand why people still believe anything they say.