Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris made a splash during a recent visit to New Hampshire, prompting speculation about her campaign’s nerves regarding a certain orange-haired politician: Donald Trump. Despite her claims of leading in the polls, the undercurrents of panic were unmistakable. Harris introduced a small business tax proposal that attempted to separate her from President Biden’s tax policies, perhaps trying to dodge the negative associations of the current administration.
In a bid to woo voters, Harris proposed a 28% tax rate on the capital gains of those earning over a million bucks, which would be a significant cut from her boss’s lofty 39.6% proposal. It seems the vice president is aiming to drum up support by promising economic growth through investment, as if simply reducing tax rates could make the economy magically better. Given Biden’s tenure, one could argue the economy already feels like it’s been through the ringer; how could it be worse?
Kamala Harris is trying to woo small business owners in NH right now.
Yet, under her economy, the small business optimism index has been at a record LOW.@kleavittnh: “Kamala supported the expansion of the IRS that has targeted small businesses and the middle class.” pic.twitter.com/zbKO8xOQUs
— Daniel Baldwin (@baldwin_daniel_) September 4, 2024
Harris also pledged to bolster small businesses by significantly raising the start-up tax deduction from a measly $5,000 to a whopping $50,000. This ambitious goal is paired with promises of low-interest loans and reducing the regulatory burdens that so many small business owners find suffocating. Nonetheless, it rings hollow for voters who have experienced inflation and economic woes under the current administration’s watch. Harris’s tightly scripted appearances and focus on controlled environments suggest she’s wary of any unscripted moments—after all, few things send a politician’s approval ratings plummeting like a foot-in-mouth moment.
Critics point out that Harris might be just checking a box by visiting New Hampshire. The state has become a prime target for political talent, especially after the last Republican win there which was back in 2000 when George W. Bush graced the ballot. Harris’s campaign team, while maintaining an air of confidence, cannot deny that Trump is lurking in the background, insisting he can still nab those four precious electoral votes this November. While she might feel self-assured with her 5-point lead in polling, the reality of Trump’s popularity in the Granite State is always looming.
Trump’s supporters are not mincing words, insisting that Harris, who they see as a far-left radical, could hardly win over voters in a state that was brushed aside by Biden. He invoked the memory of her struggling 2020 campaign when she barely made her mark in New Hampshire, famously twirling around in the primary, only to end up with a pitiful 129 votes. Critics are left wondering if her performance today is merely a repeat of past failures dressed in new promises. If Harris continues to underestimate the resilience of the voter base, she might find herself in an uncomfortable position come election day.
