Thursday Briefing: U.S. Voters Focus on the Economy

A report released yesterday, just days before Nov. 5, showed that the U.S. economy was growing at a healthy pace. The economy remains the No. 1 issue in the presidential election for voters. But most rated the country’s economy as only fair or poor in a poll this month.

And when voters are frustrated with the economy, they typically seek change in a presidential election. Donald Trump remains the more trusted candidate in terms of handling the economy, according to recent polling, but Kamala Harris has made some gains on the issue in the last few months.

“When Trump taps into voters’ concerns over the economy, it can be very effective,” my colleague Michael Gold, who covers Trump’s campaign, said. “A lot of voters see the economy as a referendum on the current administration, and when Trump focuses on that, he can be very strong.” But Trump doesn’t always stick to the script.

“Now, in most of his speeches recently,” Michael said, “he’s been saying he thinks immigration is the top issue, which is a public rebuke to his advisers who have told him to talk more about the economy.”