The Harris Surge: Is It More Than Just Inflation?

When Biden was the presidential candidate, high inflation negatively impacted his polling numbers, putting Trump in a favorable position. However, after Biden hypothetically dropped out and was replaced by Harris, her poll numbers surged ahead of Trump`s despite inflation remaining relatively unchanged. This raises questions about whether voters don`t blame Harris for inflation as much as Biden or if other factors are at play. Some theorize that voters primarily blame the president for economic issues, potentially benefiting the vice president. Others suggest that Biden`s declining popularity might be due to personal perceptions rather than solely economic factors. This situation benefits Harris, who, as a fresh candidate, avoids carrying the burden of Biden`s perceived failures. This is notable 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.