The Harris Effect: Is Bidens Exit Shifting the Blame on Inflation?

When Biden was the projected Democratic presidential nominee, high inflation negatively impacted his polling numbers, allowing Trump to take the lead. However, after Biden`s hypothetical withdrawal and Harris`s subsequent rise as the nominee, she now holds a lead over Trump despite inflation remaining relatively unchanged. This begs the question: why is Harris seemingly not being penalized for inflation, while it was detrimental to Biden`s performance? Some speculate that voters place more blame on the president for economic issues than the vice president. Others suggest that Biden`s declining popularity might be due to personal factors rather than solely economic performance. This situation presents a favorable outcome for Democrats, with Harris potentially benefiting from a fresh start unburdened by Biden`s baggage. This is notable because it suggests that inflation might not be the deciding factor in the election, as evidenced by the Democrats` better-than-expected performance in the 2022 midterms when inflation was a major concern.