Trump looks to sharpen his edge on the economy in battleground North Carolina

Original Article:

Source: Link

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to cast his ballot for early voting in Florida's primary election in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 14, 2024. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday painted a bleak picture of the U.S. economy and blamed it on the administration of his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. "You're paying the price for Kamala's liberal extremism at the gas pump, at the grocery counter, and on your mortgage bill," Trump said in a speech to supporters in Asheville, North Carolina. The speech came as the Trump campaign looks to retool its message after President Joe Biden withdrew his reelection bid and endorsed Harris in late July. As Harris has shot up in the polls, the solid lead Trump had over Biden has evaporated. But Trump still maintains his longstanding advantage over Democrats when it comes to which candidate voters believe would be best for the economy. Earlier in the day, the Labor Department reported that the annual inflation rate had slowed in July to 2.9% year over year, its lowest level since 2021. Trump's political fortunes have benefited greatly over the past three years from the high inflation and high interest rates that have squeezed consumers. Polls show that a majority of voters believe the U.S. economy is in recession, for which they blame Biden.