Vice President Kamala Harris regularly called on voters to “turn the page” in the 2024 election. Of course, that rally cry rang hollow, because she is, in fact, the incumbent vice president of a badly failing administration.
Nonetheless, in a sense, the people did, in fact, follow her advice, and “turned the page” by punting the Democrats from power across all levels of national government.
After turning the page — in a new national poll conducted just before Thanksgiving — Americans reported that their spirits rose dramatically, particularly regarding the economy, with the election of President Donald Trump to serve a second term in office.
The League of American Workers poll was conducted by TIPP Insights and queried 1,550 registered voters across America, who reported an exact split between Trump and Harris voters this election.
The economy was the driving factor for voters in the election, as 63% named it as the number one issue in determining their 2024 vote. That tally is over 2.5 times the level of the next most important issue, border security, which was the primary driver for 16% of voters.
Looking forward, voters also prioritize economy and border issues as the top agenda items for the incoming Trump-Vance administration. This poll reveals that the two most popular policy reforms are securing the border and eliminating taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits.
Even among Democrats, those tax reductions are popular, with Harris voters naming the tips-overtime-Social Security exemptions as their top agenda item for Trump.
Americans have clearly grown tired of the economic hardships of the Biden years. Though the legacy media tries to push a false narrative that prices are coming down, regular citizens know the kitchen table reality of Bidenomics all too well.
Regarding the kitchen, grocery prices have been especially frustrating for strapped American families. Though the pace of price increases has slowed from the worst days of 2022, the harsh reality is that the checkout lane at the grocery store is still a place of anxiety for millions.
According to President Joe Biden’s own Department of Agriculture, the grocery bill for a family of four on a “thrifty” plan of frugal shopping has vaulted higher. Specifically, the monthly tab has increased from $675 per month when Biden took office to $986 per month now. That represents a staggering 46% increase under Biden.
Not surprisingly, then, this poll shows a miserable job assessment number for Biden, with only 35% of Americans reporting approval vs. 55% who disapprove. Even among Harris voters, nearly one out of five (18%) disapprove of Biden’s performance. When asked about the effect of Biden’s and Harris’ policies upon their families, only 32% said those policies are helping them, while 54% report they are hurting them. Among Independents, only 26% report that Biden and Harris have helped them.
But, looking to the bright side and to better days ahead, the election of Trump ushers in a new era of raised expectations and renewed optimism. By a 13-point margin (49% to 36%), Americans nationally report their economic confidence is up due to Trump’s election, with 16% unsure.
Confidence grows especially strongly among middle-class workers, with a +18% margin for economic expectations under Trump among citizens earning $50-75,000 per year (52% to 34%).
On that topic of rebuilding a strong, large middle class in America, voters increasingly recognize that the two political parties have largely switched places, with Trump’s America First movement transforming the GOP into a party of workers. Gone are the days of the Republican Party merely representing the prerogatives of the establishment country-club set.
Now, by a 4-point margin (45% to 41%), voters see the GOP as “the party that best represents the interests of American workers.” Among hard-working Hispanics, that margin increases to 10 points for the GOP, pointing to a large, systemic political realignment.
So, this survey explains how Trump swept all seven key battleground states, won the popular vote and made history with the greatest comeback in U.S. political history. That electoral triumph and the details of this survey also validate the populist economic goals of the America First movement, which prioritize the interests of American workers through policy reforms such as immigration control and trade protectionism against predatory tactics from countries like China.
The poll also points to a clear reality that the corporate media is too dumb or too lazy to acknowledge that people are hurting and that this economy has been brutal for most citizens.
But, hope abounds, and rising confidence can, itself, become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
With the right policy rollout from Trump, Treasury Secretary-nominee Scott Bessent and the whole economic team, America can restore broad prosperity.
We can also resurrect the confidence of the masses of Americans who need elevated spirits going into the holidays and beyond.
Steve Cortes is former senior advisor to President Donald Trump, former commentator for Fox News and CNN, and president of the League of American Workers, a populist right pro-laborer advocacy group.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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