Harris is erasing Trump’s lead on the economy, new poll suggests

Going into November’s election, neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump has a decisive edge with the public on the economy, turning an issue that was once a clear strength for Trump into the equivalent of a political jump ball.

About 4 in 10 registered voters say Republican Trump would do a better job handling the economy, while a similar number say that about the Democratic vice president, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 1 in 10 voters don’t trust either candidate, and a similar share has equal faith in them.

The finding is a warning sign for Trump, who has tried to link Harris to President Joe Biden’s economic track record. The new poll suggests that Harris may be escaping some of the president’s baggage on the issue, undercutting what was previously one of Trump’s major advantages.

The difference between Trump and Harris on the economy was just two points, within the margin of error, making the issue a statistical tie between the candidates.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted the day after Harris and Trump faced off in the Sept. 10 debate found Trump leading Harris on the economy by seven points, 46% to 39%, with a similar gap in Trump’s favour on the issue of inflation.

The economy has long been a weak issue for Biden: A separate AP-NORC poll conducted in late June, before Biden’s disastrous debate with Trump, found that about 6 in 10 Americans disapproved of his handling of the economy. Earlier this year, Americans were much more likely to say that Trump’s presidency helped the country on cost of living and job creation, compared to Biden’s.

The new poll found that the economy is one of the most important issues for about 8 in 10 voters as they consider which