Vice President Kamala Harris is set to deliver a speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she will elaborate on her economic agenda, with a particular emphasis on US manufacturing. A senior campaign official has indicated that Harris will outline her plans to ensure that the US remains a dominant force in the manufacturing industry.
During her speech, Harris is expected to draw attention to the historical significance of Pittsburgh in shaping the American middle-class through its role in the rise of industrial manufacturing and the birth of the American labor movement. She will underscore her belief that Pittsburgh exemplifies how America has led industries of the future to safeguard and enhance the middle-class.
The timing of Harris' address follows former President Donald Trump's recent articulation of a vision for a “manufacturing renaissance” in the US during a rally in Savannah, Georgia. Trump proposed reducing the corporate tax rate to 15% for companies producing goods in America and increasing tariffs on imports as measures to stimulate domestic manufacturing and attract foreign companies to relocate operations to the US.
Trump criticized Harris for advocating a corporate tax rate hike to 28%, arguing that it would drive companies away from the US. A recent poll by SSRS revealed that likely voters, overall, express greater trust in Trump (50%) than Harris (39%) to manage the economy. Even among those who view Trump's policies as extreme, 15% still favor him over Harris in terms of economic stewardship.