The 2024 Presidential election is set to be determined by voters’ perceptions of each candidate’s suitability for the economy. In crucial swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the economy is a significant factor in voters’ decisions on who to vote for, according to a recent poll by CBS News and YouGov.
In Michigan, over 80% of voters ranked the economy as their top concern, followed closely by inflation and the state of democracy. President Joe Biden currently holds a narrow lead over former President Donald Trump in the state. Similarly, in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, around 80% of voters also considered the economy as one of their primary concerns ahead of the election. Other lower-ranked issues included gun policy, crime, U.S.-Mexico border security, and abortion.
Robert Costa, Chief Election and Campaign Correspondent at CBS News emphasized how complex it can be for people to interpret their economic well-being and what they want from their elected leaders. Despite positive economic indicators like low unemployment rates, rising wages and a strong stock market, around 60% of those polled by CBS News rated the economy as “fairly bad” or “very bad.” This sentiment could pose a challenge for Democrats hoping to win over working-class voters and union members away from Trump with an emphasis on labor issues.
Democrats are aware that Trump’s message on immigration can be appealing to working-class voters. To win these votes over, Democrats need to focus on economic policies that will benefit them directly. By emphasizing labor issues such as job creation and fair wages, Democrats hope to secure support from key voting blocs in the upcoming election.