The Harris Effect: Why Bidens Exit Could Defy Inflations Impact

When Biden was the projected 2024 presidential candidate, high inflation negatively impacted his approval ratings and gave Trump a lead. However, after Biden hypothetically dropped out and Harris became the Democratic candidate, her approval rating surpassed Trump`s despite inflation remaining relatively unchanged. This raises questions about whether voters hold Harris less accountable for inflation than Biden. Some possible explanations include voters placing more blame on the president for economic issues or holding pre-existing negative views of Biden unrelated to the economy. This unexpected outcome benefits Democrats, as Harris, a fresh candidate, appears unburdened by Biden`s low approval ratings. This trend was observed in the 2022 midterm elections, where Democrats performed better than expected despite high inflation.