Polling released on Tuesday found nearly all Pennsylvanians are lowering their standard of living due to the inflation and higher prices that have characterized the Biden-Harris administration.
The data was released on the heels of a national survey that found the majority of Americans trust former President Donald Trump more than Vice President Kamala Harris on every economic issue, including the cost of living.
Pollsters with the Commonwealth Foundation found 92 percent of registered voters admitted to lowering their standard of living to some degree in response to inflation and price hikes, with 34 percent saying increased prices forced them to lower their standard of living a “great deal.”
An additional 35 percent reported a “fair amount,” and 22 percent told pollsters, “[o]nly a little,” while just 7 percent said they were not forced to change their living standards because of inflation.
The pollsters also found that 57 percent of Pennsylvanians said the commonwealth is on the wrong track, and 59 percent reported a negative view of the economy.
While the polling may offer good news for Republicans, who generally poll better than Democrats on economic issues, the Commonwealth Foundation survey found former President Donald Trump and Republican Senate nominee Dave McCormick trail Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).
According to the survey, Harris leads Trump among Pennsylvania voters 55-46, and Casey has a 9-point lead over McCormick.
The group’s Commonwealth poll was conducted between September 26-29 and included 800 registered voters in Pennsylvania. The pollsters reported a margin of error of 3.46 percent.
Nationally, polling released by Reuters and Ipsos on Tuesday found voters trust Trump more than Harris on every economic issue, including inflation, which they found was the top issue for Americans.
The pollsters found that 44 percent of voters trust Trump to address the cost of living, compared to 38 percent who trust Harris on the issue.
Trump’s greatest lead on economic issues was on the U.S. Stock Market, where the former president held a 15-percent lead over Harris among voters. His lowest lead was on taxes, where 4 percent more voters trust Trump than Harris.
Pennsylvania remains statistically tied in the presidential election, according to the RealClearPolling aggregate of polls. In the battleground state, Trump has just a 0.2 percent lead over Harris.
A survey released last month showed the race much closer, with statistical ties between both Trump and Harris and between McCormick and Casey.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
