Former Clinton pollster Mark Penn said on Fox News on Thursday that former President Donald Trump needs to draw a “clear economic contrast” with Vice President Kamala Harris because she is topping the polls on “likeability” alone.
The economy and inflation are always top concerns for voters heading to the polls in November, but the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday gave Trump a seven-point lead over Harris among voters who think he would best address the issues. Appearing on “Special Report with Bret Baier,” Penn said that despite the “vibe” being in Trump's favor, the former president hasn't stopped “Kamala's momentum.” (Related story: 'I'm a quintessential Democrat': Battleground state voter says Biden-Harris economy and border crisis drove him to Trump campaign)
“I think the mood behind the polls is in Trump's favor. He has a good record across the board on immigration, the economy and crime. I think Latino voters, who have surged to almost 15% of the electorate, really care about economic issues that are essential to their lives. But I don't think the campaign is stopping Kamala's momentum,” Penn said.
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“She's getting by on just being liked, not on policy. Trump has yet to draw a clear economic contrast with her that will stick in voters' minds. Trump could do that. The tone and the behind-the-scenes are there,” Penn continued. “People think he's done a better job as president than Biden and than her, but he just hasn't delivered. He spends too much time on immigration and side issues. If I were Donald Trump, I don't know who I'd have at a rally in New York.”
Harris began unveiling her national economic plan in mid-August, but received strong backlash from critics of policies such as a federal ban on “corporate price gouging” and a $25,000 housing tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
Concerns about the economy remain strong among voters, with 77% in battleground states such as Pennsylvania saying the economy is “bad” or “fair,” while just 22% said it was “very good” or “good.” According to According to a poll conducted by The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena College.
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