US Vice-President Kamala Harris is set to deliver her inaugural policy-focused speech as a Democratic presidential candidate on Friday, addressing strategies to reduce expenses, a top concern among voters.
Harris will visit Raleigh, North Carolina, a state where Democrats are optimistic about their chances in this election, to present a plan aimed at "lowering costs for middle-class families and combating corporate price-gouging," according to a campaign official. This event has not been previously disclosed. Harris had previously canceled an event in North Carolina due to Tropical Storm Debby.
Harris' visit to North Carolina reflects growing confidence in her campaign's momentum, just under three months before the November 5 election where she will face Republican Donald Trump. While the campaign views states like Pennsylvania as crucial, North Carolina is considered more of a stretch. Democrats have only secured victory in two presidential elections there over the past half-century.
Harris' speech will be closely observed to discern any stylistic or substantive differences from President Joe Biden's approach, whose economic policies have been unfavorably received by voters due to high costs of housing, medicine, groceries, and gasoline. On Saturday, Harris voiced her support for abolishing taxes on tips, aligning with Trump's stance. Harris is scheduled to participate in a White House event with Biden on Thursday, focusing on healthcare costs.
As California's attorney general from 2011 to 2016, Harris took on "corporate greed and price gouging," challenging pharmaceutical, oil, electronics, and cosmetics companies, the campaign official noted. Harris "understands that costs are excessive and will prioritize tackling inflation from the outset," said the official, who requested anonymity prior to the event. This approach contrasts sharply with Trump's belief that easing regulations across industries from finance to energy will reduce costs and boost growth.
Nationwide, Harris led Trump by five percentage points, 42% to 37%, in an Ipsos poll released on Thursday, extending her advantage from a July 22-23 Reuters/Ipsos survey.
