Donald Trump has overtaken Kamala Harris as the top choice among Americans when it comes to the economy.
The last poll by the Financial Times and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business shows 44% of registered voters now trust Trump to handle the economy, compared to 43% for Harris. This is the first time Trump has taken the lead in this poll, and it comes just two weeks before the election.
Voters’ trust goes to Trump
The poll also shows Trump widening his advantage on financial issues. Forty-five percent of voters say they believe Trump would improve their financial situation, while only 37% think Harris could do the same.
The results paint a picture of Harris losing ground fast on the key issue of the economy. The poll tracker now shows the two candidates locked in a dead heat in the crucial swing states.
Voters continue to criticize Harris and Joe Biden for not doing enough to fix inflation or boost economic growth in the past four years. These complaints have been persistent in the FT-Michigan Ross polls since they started in November 2023.
Harris briefly gained a lead after she took over from Biden on the Democratic ticket this summer, but that advantage has been wiped out.
More voters believe their financial situation was better during Trump’s presidency than it is now. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said they were “much” or “somewhat” better off under Trump, compared to just 28% who said the same about Biden.
The high cost of living, driven by 2022’s inflation surge, continues to be a major issue. In fact, over three-quarters of voters cited rising prices as one of their biggest sources of financial stress.
Trump has promised to tackle these issues by lowering energy prices and cutting taxes. His plan includes eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and senior citizen benefits.
Harris, meanwhile, has proposed an “opportunity economy” designed to help middle-class families, with plans to crack down on price gouging and offer subsidies for first-time home buyers and small businesses.
Voter sentiment on economic policies
The poll results show Harris’s plan resonating with some voters. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed believe Harris better represents the interests of the middle class, while 37% believe Trump will do better.
Harris also scores higher on representing small businesses, blue-collar workers, and union members. Trump is seen as the candidate for large corporations and the wealthy. His economic strategy leans heavily into protectionism.
He’s promised steep tariffs on goods produced overseas, from cars to consumer products. He also plans to slash the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, something that would undoubtedly favor big businesses.
Despite this, Harris has not backed down. In a statement made from her residence in Washington, D.C., she took a swipe at Trump, accusing him of seeking “unchecked power” if he returns to the White House.
Her remarks came in response to a New York Times article in which John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, called Trump an “authoritarian” and compared him to fascist leaders. She said:
“The bottom line is this: We know what Donald Trump wants. He wants unchecked power. The question in 13 days will be, what do the American people want?”
The Trump campaign immediately dismissed her remarks, calling them desperate and unfounded. The former president continued his campaign trail in Georgia, where he doubled down on his economic promises and criticized Harris’s ability to manage the economy.
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