The Harris Surge: Is Inflation Really a Deciding Factor?

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 surpassed Trump in polls despite inflation remaining relatively unchanged. This leads to questions about whether voters don`t blame Harris for inflation as much as Biden or if other factors are at play. Some speculate that voters might hold the president more accountable for economic issues than the vice president. Others suggest that Biden`s declining popularity could be due to personal perceptions rather than solely economic factors. This situation benefits Harris, as she distances herself from Biden`s perceived shortcomings. Interestingly, despite high inflation in 2022, Democrats performed better than expected in the midterm elections, suggesting that inflation might not be the sole determinant of voter decisions.