It’s an uncomfortable truth, but Trump has the edge on Kamala in one key area

I’m not sure what music Kamala Harris has on in her armoured SUV when she’s travelling, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the California native was listening to The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”. This is turning into the “vibes” election: smile a lot, laugh plenty, sound positive, be upbeat – and contrast yourself as much as possible with the dark, dystopian Donald.

And to borrow from another major theme of The Beach Boys oeuvre, she seems intent on riding that wave for as long as possible. But with the Democratic Party about to meet in Chicago next week for its convention, the mood music will surely have to give way to substance. It’s time for Team Harris to start talking seriously about policy.

Say it quietly, but there has been far more policy detail from Donald Trump than her. Until now, the one bit of policy she has announced was, in fact, an unashamed smash and grab raid on one of Trump’s ideas – to ban the taxing of tips on hospitality staff. In the US, where waiting staff are paid a paltry amount, what you leave for service is a vital part of what these people earn – so if you leave less than 20 per cent as a tip you’re likely to be chased down the street.

But wider economic policy from the lovable and cheery Harris/Walz duo? It’s still a bit of a blank sheet. As she begins to set out her stall some specifics around the economy are starting to drip through; federal measures to tackle price gouging by big corporations as a way of protecting consumers – particularly in the areas of food and pharmaceuticals, stopping mergers and acquisitions that harm consumers, and a new policy on tariffs are among the ideas being discussed.

The first reason for saying so little until now is obvious and fair enough: Harris is new to