Despite his erratic political style, Donald Trump's consistent message addressing American economic frustrations proved effective. He promised to fix the economy, blaming Biden, Harris, and undocumented immigrants for inflation. While his proposals were often contradictory and economically unsound (e.g., promising both to curb inflation and impose significant tariffs), his pledge to 'fix things' resonated strongly with a populace largely dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.
The Democratic campaign, while outwardly hopeful, suffered from a significant flaw. Kamala Harris' positive messaging, though initially praised, failed to create sufficient distance from the Biden administration's perceived inaction on inflation. The administration's focus on post-COVID economic recovery and its framing of inflation as a temporary issue were ineffective politically, despite the underlying economic progress.
Harris' attempts to maintain a centrist approach, aiming to attract Republican voters, limited her ability to offer radical solutions or strongly contrast herself with Biden. Her loyalty to her predecessor ultimately hindered the Democrats' ability to successfully counter Trump's narrative.
Ironically, Trump may now benefit from the Democratic administration's economic successes. If he implements extreme measures like mass deportations or high tariffs, he risks exacerbating economic problems, undermining his victory. However, his political instincts and the influence of his advisors might mitigate these risks, potentially leading to a declaration of rapid economic success despite the potential underlying challenges.