The Harris Surge: Is It More Than Just Inflation?

When Biden was the presidential candidate, high inflation negatively impacted his polling numbers, allowing Trump to take the lead. However, after Biden hypothetically dropped out and Harris became the Democratic candidate, her poll numbers surged past Trump`s, even though inflation remained relatively unchanged. This begs the question: why is Harris seemingly not being penalized for inflation, while it significantly hurt Biden`s numbers? Some theorize that voters place more blame on the president for a struggling economy than the vice president. Others believe that Biden`s declining popularity might be due to personal reasons unrelated to the economy, such as his age. This situation presents a favorable opportunity for Democrats, as Harris, a fresh face unburdened by Biden`s baggage, is currently excelling. Interestingly, this trend of voters seemingly not entirely blaming Democrats for economic woes was also observed during the 2022 midterm elections.