The Harris Anomaly: Why Are Voters Less Bothered by Inflation Now?

Initially, Biden trailed Trump in the polls due to voter dissatisfaction with inflation. However, after Biden hypothetically dropped out and Harris became the Democratic nominee, she surged ahead of Trump despite inflation remaining relatively unchanged. This raises questions about whether voters hold Harris less accountable for inflation than Biden or if other factors beyond the economy are influencing their preferences. Some theories suggest voters might attribute economic woes more to the president than the vice president, or that Biden`s declining popularity could be linked to personal factors rather than solely economic performance. Notably, Harris`s success might indicate that a fresh candidate, unburdened by Biden`s baggage, could be advantageous for Democrats. This is significant because it challenges the assumption that inflation would automatically hinder Democratic candidates, as evidenced by their better-than-expected performance in the 2022 midterms when inflation was a major concern.