Candidates Focus on Economy with Two Months Until Election

By Brendan Scanland

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2024 Presidential Election is 60 days away. The finish line is in sight and on the campaign trail, things are heating up. 

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, and their running mates, are hitting the campaign trail hard, especially in swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. 

With the economy polling as a top issue for American voters, candidates are pitching their policies. 

“I want to see 25 million new small business applications by the end of my first term,” said Vice President Harris during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Wednesday. 

Harris focused on small business support, including more tax relief for startups and more assistance for small businesses looking to expand. 

“We will expand the tax deduction for startups to $50,000,” said Harris. “We will provide low and no interest loans to small businesses that want to expand. And we will- and this is very important- cut the red tape.” 

On Thursday, Harris traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa., where she is expected to prepare for the first debate with former President Donald Trump next Tuesday in Philadelphia. 

“I took care of our economy like I would take care of my own company,” said Trump while speaking at the Economic Club of New York Thursday.  

Trump also discussed trade, tariffs and economic priorities like curbing wasteful spending through a new government efficiency commission. 

“I will create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms,” said Trump. 

Trump attacked Harris on the economy and illegal immigration, as he vowed to work with Congress to end taxpayer funded benefits to illegal immigrants. 

“If Kamala is allowed to continue to let our country be invaded, we will face a fiscal Armageddon,” said Trump. “I will ask Congress to pass legislation barring all taxpayer funded benefits to illegal aliens. And by the way, when you do that, they won’t come,” Trump added. 

As of today, both campaigns have agreed to the final rules and details for the first Presidential debate on Sep. 10, including muted microphones, which were used during the debate between Trump and President Biden in June. The Harris campaign originally pushed for the microphones to be unmuted.