Vice President Kamala Harris is set to unveil her first major economic plan as a presidential candidate this Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. This marks a significant moment in her campaign, as it’s the first major policy initiative she’s introduced since President Biden exited the race last month.
In her speech, Kamala Harris will emphasize her commitment to tackling inflation as a “Day One” priority if elected. Her plan includes a comprehensive strategy to lower costs for middle-class families, combat corporate price gouging, and reduce the overall financial burden on Americans. These proposals come at a time when economic concerns dominate voters’ minds, with inflation and the state of the economy consistently ranking as top issues in 2024 polls.
The most recent CBS News poll highlights the urgency of Harris’s focus, showing that only 9% of registered voters currently rate the national economy as “very good.” Although inflation has cooled since its peak in June 2022, prices remain about 20% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many Americans still feeling the financial strain.’
Friday’s announcement follows Harris’s recent rally in Las Vegas, where she pledged to eliminate taxes on tips and raise the minimum wage, her first two economic policy proposals as a presidential candidate. Speaking to a crowd that included Nevada Culinary union members, Harris promised:
“When I am president, we will continue our fight for working families, including raising the minimum wage and eliminating taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.”
A Harris-Walz campaign official noted that eliminating taxes on tips would require legislation, making this pledge a significant policy push. Interestingly, this idea mirrors a proposal made by former President Donald Trump during a rally in Las Vegas back in June. With key tax changes from Trump’s 2017 presidency set to expire in 2025, the control of Congress will play a crucial role in shaping future tax legislation.
Since becoming the Democratic presidential candidate, Harris has consistently emphasized her dedication to supporting the middle class. She’s been crisscrossing battleground states, underscoring her plans to address economic issues head-on.
During a recent campaign stop in Glendale, Arizona, Harris reiterated her commitment to lowering prices and holding corporations accountable. “When I am president, I will continue that work to bring down prices,” she assured the crowd.
“I will take on big corporations that engage in illegal price gouging. I will take on corporate landlords that unfairly raise rents on working families. I will take on Big Pharma and cap the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans.”
Harris also took the opportunity to draw a contrast with former President Trump, telling the over 15,000 attendees, “Unlike Donald Trump, I will always put the middle class and working families first.”
Throughout her campaign, Harris has made it clear that she views economic issues as paramount. Voters in battleground states have echoed these concerns, frequently citing the economy as their top priority when heading to the polls.
For example, in Las Vegas, voter Abraham Camejo expressed the need for policies that support job creation and career advancement for everyone. “Workforce development, creating job opportunities, making sure everyone can advance in different career fields,” Camejo said. He also pointed out the disconnect between policies that benefit big corporations and those that support the middle class.
Despite her efforts to connect with voters on economic issues, Harris faces a significant challenge. According to a CBS News poll, former President Trump still holds an advantage when it comes to voters’ perceptions of who will improve their finances. The poll shows that 45% of registered voters believe they’d be better off financially with Trump, compared to just 25% who say the same about Harris.
Before becoming the presidential candidate, Harris embarked on an Economic Opportunity tour throughout 2024. This tour was designed to address voters’ top concerns about the economy and to highlight the economic achievements of the Biden-Harris administration.
At that time, Harris was campaigning as Biden’s running mate, but now, as the lead candidate, she’s taking on the challenge of convincing voters that she has the best plan to steer the country’s economy in the right direction.
Source: CBS News
