By Paul Bedard
Rising inflation is the top election issue for over 8 out of 10 voters, with most blaming President Joe Biden’s policies for making the economy worse in less than two years on the job.
In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey, 84% said that rising prices would be important in their vote, easily making it the top issue. That includes 77% of Democrats who said it was an important issue.
The survey was released on the heels of new indications that prices are continuing to rise higher and faster than the White House predicted, undermining claims by Biden and his top aides that they have inflation under control.
It would appear in the Rasmussen numbers that a majority of voters don’t believe Biden or his aides, however. They show that 60% believe the president’s policies are to blame for “increased inflation.” Just 13% think the White House has been successful in its bid to decrease inflation.
And it seems clear that voters polled by Rasmussen aren’t likely to change their minds before Election Day. Asked “how concerned are you about inflation,” a sky-high 89% said they were somewhat to very concerned.
Digging deeper into the numbers, Rasmussen’s analysis indicated that “majorities of all racial groups — 64% of whites, 60% of black voters and 66% of other minorities — are very concerned about inflation.”
The poll joins others putting the economy at the top of mind for voters. A new one in Virginia from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Civic Leadership, for example, notes that people are “pessimistic” about Biden fixing the economy.
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Meanwhile
Joe Biden’s economic and energy policies have resulted in another record matching former President Jimmy Carter. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced an inflation driven increase in SAA benefits of 8.7% beginning in January 2023. This is the largest cost of living adjustment in 40 years.