The Harris Effect: Is Bidens Economic Burden Lifting With His Exit?

When Biden was the projected 2024 presidential candidate, high inflation negatively impacted his approval ratings and gave Trump a lead in the polls. However, after Biden hypothetically drops out and Harris becomes the Democratic candidate, she sees a surge in popularity and surpasses Trump in polls despite inflation remaining relatively unchanged. This begs the question: why is Harris seemingly not penalized for inflation while Biden was? Some theorize that voters place more blame for the economy on the president than the vice president. Others believe Biden`s unpopularity might stem from personal perceptions rather than solely economic factors. This unexpected outcome presents a favorable situation for Democrats, with Harris potentially benefiting from a clean slate, unburdened by Biden`s baggage. This is significant because it suggests that inflation might not be the deciding factor in the election, as evidenced by the Democrats` performance in the 2022 midterms where they performed better than expected despite high inflation.