Vice President Kamala Harris is under increasing criticism as inflation remains a stubborn issue, with voters expressing frustration over rising prices. In both 2021 and 2022, Harris cast decisive tie-breaking votes to pass the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, which economists argue have contributed to the inflation problem that continues to plague the nation in 2024.
Recent reports show the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by 0.2%, while core inflation climbed by 0.3%, numbers that came in higher than expected. Bloomberg News’ Michael McKee explained that these figures signal persistent inflationary pressures, with year-over-year inflation reaching 2.4% for the headline number and 3.3% for core inflation. Additionally, jobless claims have risen sharply, with 258,000 claims compared to the previous month’s 225,000.
Harris is struggling to convince voters that she can fix the very economic challenges she had a hand in creating. President Joe Biden has repeatedly praised her work, claiming she has been involved in everything his administration has done, both domestically and in foreign affairs. However, this close connection to the current administration’s economic policies may be more of a burden than a benefit as the election approaches.
Harris’ critics argue that her role in pushing through these inflation-fueling policies will haunt her campaign, especially as American families continue to struggle with higher prices and an uncertain job market. The question remains whether voters will trust her with the country’s top job after seeing the economic toll of the policies she helped enact.
