Dem
47
GOP
53
As you have probably heard 100 times by now, voters are extremely sensitive to prices and inflation. Democracy doesn't interest them much, it often seems, nor does dictatorship, but prices are front and center. A new Ipsos poll shows that Americans definitely blame Donald Trump for the current rate of inflation. He will try to blame Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, Zohran Mamdani, Nancy Pelosi, Bad Bunny, Bozo the Clown, Charles III, Charles II, Charles I (a toothless or, at least, headless, accusation), Charles Martel, Charles the Great, Charles the Bald (OK, maybe too close to home), Attila the Hun or somebody else, but that is not going to work. People have already decided this is the Trump economy—and they are not happy with it. Here are the responses to the question: Is Donald Trump to blame for the current rate of inflation?
Among all adults, Trump is 19 points under water and that is more likely to get worse than better, especially if the tariffs stick. Or if their aftereffects stick, which is likely, even if Trump loses at the Supreme Court (see above). Seven in 10 Americans say they are spending more on groceries this year than last. In addition, SNAP benefits are in limbo. People who never needed food banks before are flocking to them.
High food prices disproportionately affect working-class families—that is, Trump's base. Also important is that energy prices are up 12% over the past year. That is also something they notice. Americans have found a scapegoat for the price increases: Trump's tariffs, with 58% believing this.
On Tuesday, candidates who hammered on prices, in particular Zohran Mamdani, Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, did very well. The topic of prices is not going to go away. Famed economics expert Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said: "I can't see into the future, but I see Republicans losing the House if Americans are continuing to go paycheck-to-paycheck." For the record, in case you are curious, the actual name of the governor-elect of New Jersey is Rebecca Michelle Sherrill. If you are curious where "Mikie" came from, here is the governor-elect explaining it. (V)