Harris’s campaign is focused on child poverty, labour unions, health and childcare costs, and protecting dignity in retirement.
All of a sudden it’s Kamala Harris’s economy – a major opportunity as well as a possible risk for the likely Democratic presidential nominee.
Shortly after US President Joe Biden left the race a week ago, Vice-President Harris began to craft her own narrative around the economy by putting an emphasis on ending child poverty, promoting labour unions, reducing the costs of health and childcare, and protecting “dignity” in retirement.
Not once in speeches in Wisconsin, Indiana or Texas did she mention the word “inflation” – the overwhelming economic challenge that has dogged Biden’s administration and forced him to consistently acknowledge voters’ pain as they cope with higher grocery, petrol, housing, and auto expenses.
Harris is putting a bigger priority on what she says could be ahead.
“In our vision of the future, we see a place where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead – a future where no child has to grow up in poverty, where every senior can retire with dignity, and where every worker has the freedom to join a union,” Harris told the American Federation of Teachers on Thursday.
But Republicans have moved quickly to try to blame Harris for the inflation that until recently they pinned on Biden. They are emphasising the cumulative impact of high prices under the Democratic administration.
Data from the US Department of Labour shows that consumer prices are up 19.2% since Biden took office, while average hourly earnings have risen 16.9%.
Republican Party leaders are openly saying Harris contributed to the inflation without specifying how she managed to do so other than by being vice-president.
“Vice-President Harris owns this administration’s record,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “Her fingerprints are all over the past four years of failure.”
Past and current officials who worked with Harris said in interviews that there is an expectation that criticism on inflation will not stick to her because for many voters she represents a fresh voice after nearly eight years with either Trump or Biden in the Oval Office.
