America’s debt burden is north of $35 trillion, and both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump propose adding trillions of dollars more to it.
And that’s not what voters in seven swing states want, according to a poll of 2,828 registered voters conducted for the nonprofit and nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
The survey, which Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research ran late in September, reveals deep concern about debt repercussions across party lines in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
All told, 96% of voters, including 97% of Trump supporters, 95% of Harris backers and 95% of the few undecideds left, are worried about a national debt that averages out to more than $105,000 per American citizen, with interest alone boosting that burden by roughly $7,000 year over year.
The polling shows a dead heat across the seven states among the candidates, with all leads for either Trump or Harris inside the margin of error. It also suggests voters clamor for real details from the campaigns.
“The national debt is a critical campaign issue for voters in the decisive swing states,” said Peterson Foundation CEO Michael A. Peterson.
“Not only do these key voters overwhelmingly want to hear candidates put forward a plan, they connect America’s fiscal outlook to key economic priorities including reducing inflation, lowering interest rates, and protecting programs like Medicare and Social Security. With just a month until election day, it’s clear that the candidates should communicate their plans to address America’s $35 trillion and growing national debt.”
It clearly follows, at least in the minds of these voters whose states will decide the election in less than four weeks, that America’s failure to balance its books is a matter of serious concern. And they’re looking for solutions from the candidates that involve tightening belts rather than busting budgets for short-term political gain.
Ninety-five percent of swing-state voters say it’s “important” for “2024 presidential candidates to have a plan to address the rising national debt even if that plan includes spending cuts or raising taxes.”
And 94% of those polled agree Harris and Trump need to be asked how their tax plans will affect the national debt.
The same overwhelming majority believe debt management is necessary to protect Medicare and Social Security (95%), to combat inflation and the ever-escalating cost of living (94%), to stabilize the economy and create jobs (95%) and to lower interest rates (93%).
These voters also want commitments to real action: 69% across the seven states would rather hear about cutting spending or raising taxes to bring down the debt than hear candidates say they don’t want to raise taxes or cut spending.
And neither candidate is offering real answers, according to 63% of those polled, who say neither the former president nor the vice president is saying enough about how he or she would would cut the debt. Just 10% say they’re hearing too much on the subject from the candidates.
Voters demand answers. Will they get them?
