Kamala Harris's New Way Forward on the Economy
The 2024 election depends on us, and Message Box is a resource for those attempting to persuade the people in their lives to move off the sidelines and vote against Donald Trump and MAGA extremists. I offer political analysis and targeted advice on engaging in political discussions with friends and family who are skeptical of Biden and curious about Trump. If you wish to support this work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Kamala Harris's New Way Forward on the EconomyThe Vice President is taking the fight to Trump on the top issue in the electionAmidst the political tumult of the last couple of months, one thing has remained constant — the economy is the top issue for voters. More specifically, concerns about elevated prices — despite declining inflation — continue to drive the political conversation. In the most recent New York Times/Siena poll of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, 22% of likely voters said the economy was the single most important issue in deciding their vote — 8 points higher than abortion and 9 points higher than immigration. Dissatisfaction with the economy helped propel Trump to a lead earlier this year despite his convictions, indictments, and involvement with insurrections. This week, Trump gave a speech in North Carolina that was billed as a major economic speech, and on Thursday, he gave an interminably long press conference at his golf club regarding high prices. Yesterday, also in North Carolina, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first major policy speech of the campaign. She also focused on high prices. Head-to-head engagement on this issue tells us a lot of very good things about how Harris and her team are messaging on the economy. Others are more qualified than I to weigh in on the substantive merits of her proposals, but the politics are promising. Watch the whole thing if you can, it’s great. 1. What She ProposedRead the full policy paper on Harris’s proposals HERE, but the major tenets include:
Even though these items represent a piece of her broader economic agenda, it is impressively comprehensive for a campaign created out of thin air less than a month ago. 2. Why Now?The timing of yesterday’s rollout is aggressive and particularly savvy. It is unusual for a presidential candidate to give a major policy speech right before the convention. Normally, they roll into the convention on a wave of momentum with big rallies. And not for nothing; the speechwriters are usually slammed working on the convention speech. But Harris is in a unique position. Most candidates arrive at the convention after campaigning for over a year. They have laid out their policy agenda in countless speeches, forums, and primary debates. Due to the brief nature of her campaign, Harris was without this opportunity. She launched herself into the race with an imperative to pick her VP under a very compressed timeline. Harris is far from a blank slate. She’s been Vice President for nearly four years but hasn’t yet laid out her vision going forward. There are two reasons to do it now. First, there is no time like the present. There are only so many days left in the campaign. Second, it’s important that the convention speech isn’t burdened with the expectations of major policy rollouts. That speech, which tens of millions of people will view, is her best opportunity to introduce herself to the nation. That speech should not sound like a mini-State of the Union, filled with a raft of policy proposals. Instead, she should communicate her story, values, and vision. Policy will be mentioned, but it isn’t a policy speech. There is no need to go into mind-numbing detail. 3. Harris’s Economic MessageBecause his fake persona as a business tycoon was imprinted on the American psyche via tabloids and reality television, Trump has always had an advantage on the economy. That advantage was magnified this cycle because he associated himself with the economic stability and lower prices during the pre-pandemic era. The best thing the Trump economy achieved was not massively fumbling all of the work Barack Obama did to rebuild the economy after the Great Recession — but I digress. In that NYT/Siena battleground poll, Trump has a 6-point advantage over Harris in terms of trust on handling the economy. This gap is much narrower than Biden faced, but still presents a challenge. This speech and the policies announced are a roadmap for how Harris plans to narrow that gap and win the election:
Yesterday's roll out was a major test for Kamala Harris and her campaign and they passed it with flying colors. The next step is ours. People will only hear this message and learn about these policies if we tell them. That work starts now. You're currently a free subscriber to The Message Box. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. |
Older messages
The Electoral Map: How Harris Gets to 270
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
In only a month, the Vice President has radically changed the electoral map ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Why the Dem Convention Won't Be All About Trump
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
For the first time in a long time, Kamala Harris has made politics about more than Donald Trump ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Why Trump's Return to Twitter Won't Save Him
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
The former President returned to his favorite platform, but Twitter and the world aren't the same. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
How Kamala Harris Took Control of the 2024 Campaign
Sunday, August 11, 2024
In three weeks, Kamala Harris has changed everything about a campaign where Trump was gliding to victory ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Is Calling Republicans "Weird" our Best Message?
Friday, August 9, 2024
MAGA Republicans are super weird, but the voters already know that ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
You Might Also Like
New and Old #189
Friday, November 22, 2024
Friday roundup and commentary ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
"I was built by inherited hungers. This is not a poem that names them." by Kimberly Blaeser
Friday, November 22, 2024
As a body politic we take up space in their ledgers. / Yes, my relatives are the salvage bodies of history. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day November 22, 2024 I was built by inherited
"Women in male fields" is sadly relatable
Friday, November 22, 2024
— Check out what we Skimm'd for you today November 22, 2024 Subscribe Read in browser But first: the best sales to shop this week Update location or View forecast Quote of the Day "You should
What Gaetz's Flameout Means for the Rest of Trump's Cabinet
Friday, November 22, 2024
A top pick being forced to drop out this fast is a real warning sign for the incoming Trump administration. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Souvenirs of gratitude
Friday, November 22, 2024
10 things worth sharing this week ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
the savour present list
Friday, November 22, 2024
lovely things that people will actually want to open this year ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
And The #1 Handbag Trend For Winter 2025 Will Be...
Friday, November 22, 2024
Stunning. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 11.21.2024 And The #1 Handbag Trend For Winter 2025 Will Be... (Trends) And The #1 Handbag Trend For Winter 2025 Will Be... Stunning. Read More Demi Moore
RESEND - 3x3: November 21, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
I kept thinking this week was Thanksgiving... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
3x3: November 21, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
I kept thinking this week was Thanksgiving... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
6 Unexpected Household Uses for Dry-Erase Markers
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Green Bubble Chats on iPhone Have a Major Security Issue. The temporary tool we've all been sleeping on. Not displaying correctly? View this newsletter online. TODAY'S FEATURED STORY Six