The Blubber

Kamala Harris has proposed a series of economic measures including the construction of millions of new homes, assistance for first-time homebuyers, tax breaks for families, and a ban on grocery "price-gouging" in her first major economic policy speech. These plans build on initiatives from the Biden administration and aim to address voter concerns about rising prices since 2021.

Many of her proposals would need approval from Congress, where similar ideas have faced challenges in the past. Donald Trump criticized Harris, noting that she has had more than three years in office to fulfill these promises. His campaign labeled her proposals as "dangerously liberal," questioning why she hadn't acted sooner.

In response, Harris, speaking in North Carolina on Friday, said, "If you want to know who someone cares about, look at who they fight for. Donald Trump fights for billionaires and large corporations. I will fight to give money back to working and middle-class Americans."

Her campaign's plans include a tax credit for builders of homes sold to first-time buyers, along with up to $25,000 in down-payment assistance for eligible first-time buyers, potentially benefiting four million households over four years. She also supports capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month for everyone, finding ways to cancel medical debt, and providing a $6,000 tax credit to families when they have a new child.

Harris is pushing for a federal law to prevent companies from charging excessively for groceries and has called for action on a bill that would prevent property owners from using services that coordinate rent increases.

Democrats and their allies hope that Harris will be a stronger and more trusted advocate for addressing economic challenges than President Joe Biden. Robert Weissman, co-president of the consumer watchdog Public Citizen, described Harris's plans as a "pro-consumer, anti-corporate abuse agenda," noting that while the Biden administration discussed similar issues, Harris's proposals are more aggressive.

However, pollster Micah Roberts, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, pointed out that inflation remains a challenge for Democrats. He noted that voters have historically trusted Trump and Republicans more on economic issues, saying, "Trump's been holding the advantage on this stuff for over a year." Without significant changes, Roberts expressed skepticism that Harris could close the gap.