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Trump focuses on inflation in NC freeze, Harris gains ground

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WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump focused on inflation and the cost of living during a speech in North Carolina on Wednesday, focusing on an issue where Republicans are confident as Vice President Kamala Harris gained ground in new polls ahead of her party's convention next week.

Trump, who has criticized President Joe Biden for months over his handling of the economy and the U.S. southern border, directed his attack at Harris during his speech in a swing state he narrowly won in 2020.

Trump called Harris and Biden “a team” and also attacked Democratic officials over their crime and foreign policy. He downplayed Harris's surge less than a month after she entered the race and a week before she formally accepted her party's nomination in Chicago.

Here's what you need to know about the former president's campaign appearance:

Harris gains ground

Since Biden withdrew his candidacy last month and endorsed his vice president, Harris appears to have wiped out at least some of the lead in the polls that Trump gained after his appearance in the debate against the incumbent president on June 27.

The Cook Political Report reported Wednesday that Harris is ahead of Trump in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona and is tied with him in another key state, Georgia.

Still, Harris, who will deliver her own economic speech in North Carolina on Friday, failed to beat Trump in all areas of the poll. Trump was 6 percentage points ahead of the vice president in the poll when respondents were asked who would best handle costs and inflation for the country.

The poll also found that 49 percent of voters in swing states were more concerned about Harris setting economic policy. In May, 55 percent said the same about Biden.

Inflation remains a concern

During Trump's visit to North Carolina, there were signs that one of his key issues – inflation – might be declining.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that the trailing-12-month inflation rate fell to 2.9%, the lowest since 2021. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2%. Food prices rose 2.2% year over year. Energy prices rose 1.1% and gasoline prices fell.

In a statement, the Democratic National Committee said the latest inflation report shows that Biden and Harris' economic policies are “delivering on their promise to cut costs and strengthen the economy from the bottom up and from the middle so that every American family can succeed.”

But in Asheville, North Carolina, Trump highlighted the rising cost of living during the Biden-Harris administration and Americans' concerns about their wallets, promising to cut a range of costs, from taxes to monthly bills – issues the former president has long addressed since first running for the White House.

A Gallup poll earlier this year found that the percentage of Americans who say inflation or the cost of living is the most important financial problem facing their family hit a new high for the third year in a row.

But what does that mean for the rest of an already unique election? From groceries and gas to rent and other expenses, debates about the economy aren't going away in 2024. One of the fiercest battles between Harris and Trump will be convincing Americans that she's the right candidate for their pocketbook.

“A few interesting months”

Before flying to North Carolina, Trump cast his vote in his home state of Florida ahead of Tuesday's primary elections. He spoke briefly with reporters, including about the hacker attack on his campaign and how he views the final phase of the election.

“We have an interesting few months ahead of us,” Trump said.

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