Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is set to unveil her economic plan on Friday in North Carolina, focusing on reducing the costs of groceries, housing, and healthcare. She will also emphasize her contrasts with Donald Trump on tax policy and tariffs, according to aides.
Harris’s speech will address issues such as “price gouging” and aim to highlight her distinct economic vision compared to Joe Biden, who stepped aside as the Democratic presidential candidate last month. Despite maintaining many of Biden’s policies, Harris will focus on the issues most important to her.
In July, inflation fell below 3% for the first time in nearly three and a half years, though grocery and consumer goods prices remain high. Harris’s plan will center on pocketbook issues for working families, particularly those with young children. She will champion the child tax credit and other initiatives to support lower-income families.
Trump’s campaign has proposed new tax cuts for middle-class households and the elimination of taxes on tipped wages, which Harris also supports. In contrast, Trump has criticized a potential Harris presidency, suggesting it could lead to economic downturns similar to those before the Great Depression.
Harris’s upcoming speech is part of a broader effort to address voters’ key concerns. Recent polls show her slightly ahead of Trump on economic issues. Her campaign has focused on healthcare, abortion rights, and affordable housing, with plans to cut costs and support climate-resilient communities.
While Harris is expected to avoid divisive details and maintain a “strategically ambiguous” stance on some issues, she will draw clear distinctions from Trump’s economic policies. Trump’s administration had previously slashed the corporate tax rate and introduced temporary tax breaks, which he promises to make permanent.
Trump’s campaign has linked Harris to Biden’s economic record, and he has used unconventional methods, such as comparing inflation to Tic Tac boxes, to make his points. Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, criticized Harris’s economic policies, asserting that Trump’s track record shows he can make the country prosperous again.
Biden was briefed on the current economic situation, noting improvements such as falling inflation and strong consumer spending.
