Biden’s record on the economy is good but voters don’t feel it. Character, not policy, is key to victory

Under Biden, the economy has gained 15m, jobs so far. Under Trump, the economy lost 2.9m jobs. Photograph: Reuters

The new Harris poll, conducted for the Guardian is troubling, not only because it shows Americans are still pessimistic about the economy but also because – with election day just five and a half months away – so many Americans believe the economy is bad when in fact it’s damn good.

In the Harris poll, 55% think the economy is shrinking and 56% believe the US is in a recession. In fact, the economy is growing.