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[1] A new CNBC poll shows a tight race between former President Trump and Vice President Harris in key battlegrounds, as well as nationally, with both results well within the margin of error.
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[2] It comes as the Vice President's favorability ratings are eroding. She's now underwater by 10 points, while the former president's favorability rating is rising, although he also remains underwater.
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[3] It also comes as voters say they prefer Mr. Trump on their top issue, the economy, and that they'd be better off financially under his leadership, not hers.
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[4] Join me now for more on that poll: CNBC Senior Economics Reporter Steve Liesman. Steve, it is great to see you. So let's dig into the economic portion of all of this.
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[5] As a whole, respondents are saying they don't like the economy, but they like their present economic situation. What do these numbers tell you?
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[6] Yeah, we've seen this before, Christian, and great to be here. People kind of think the U.S. economy nationally is going to hell in a handbasket⁽¹⁾, but ask them how they're doing, and the numbers are quite a bit better.
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[7] Now, the overall national numbers are a touch better. 26% see the economy as excellent or good, but more than 70% say it's just fair or poor.
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[8] Ask them about how they're doing personally in their personal financial situation, 51% say fair or poor, 48% say excellent or good.
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[9] So, it's part of it is the narrative, and part of it is something we're going to talk about, I think, in a little bit, which is the inflation story.
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[10] Yeah, I mean, it's really fascinating because you have respondents basically saying that the prices of goods are going up, even as inflation is coming down.
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[11] Talk a little bit about that disparity, and does it speak to the fact that the Biden-Harris Administration is not doing an effective job at messaging this?
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[12] Well, I don't think they're messaging at it well, and I don't know that they have a message on it. Inflation, the prices are high and have remained high.
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[13] The rate of price increase, which is the inflation rate that we follow here in the financial world, that has come down. It was 9%, it's now 2.4%.