Following her electrifying entry into the presidential race, Kamala Harris (59), the Democratic nominee, is now shifting her focus to winning over voters with a populist touch. In her inaugural policy speech delivered to thousands in Raleigh, North Carolina, Harris introduced a series of proposals aimed at tackling rising costs, reducing rent and housing prices, and bolstering families through tax cuts.
Harris began on a personal note, sharing her story of growing up in modest circumstances. She recounted how her mother saved for over a decade to buy a house—a memory that still resonates with her. “I remember so clearly how excited she was,” Harris recalled, noting how her mother’s joy amplified her own. As a teenager, Harris worked at McDonald’s for extra cash but acknowledged that for many, these wages were their primary means of survival. “And it all gets harder when the cost of living rises,” she said, connecting her experience to today’s economic challenges.
It’s clear that alongside immigration issues at the border, the economy is the pivotal issue in her contest against Republican Donald Trump (78). High inflation continues to strain American households, with rising costs for food, travel, cars, insurance, and real estate stoking widespread discontent.
In response, Harris unveiled an economic plan packed with incentives:
- Price Controls: Targeting corporate profiteering, she proposed price controls to curb inflation.
- Homeownership Assistance: Harris introduced a plan to help with down payments, offering $25,000 subsidies to low-income earners, emphasizing that homeownership should not be an unattainable dream.
- Tax Cuts and Healthcare Costs: She called for significant tax cuts for families, along with measures to reduce health insurance and medication costs.
Harris praised the post-pandemic recovery of the U.S. economy, declaring it the “strongest in the world.” However, she acknowledged that many Americans have yet to feel the benefits in their daily lives. She promised an “economy of opportunity,” contrasting her vision with Trump’s, whom she accused of favoring tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, while imposing a national sales tax that would drive up costs for everyone.
As she battles Trump’s portrayal of her as a “radical ultra-liberal” who would wreck the economy, Harris is relying on these election promises to resonate with voters. Despite this, polls show that 45% of Americans trust Trump more on economic issues, compared to 38% for Harris.
