Harris and Trump Present Divergent Economic Visions Before Tuesday Debate

Former President Donald Trump is making waves in Wisconsin as he holds a rally focused on the economy in Mosinee this Saturday. This visit marks his first trip to this predominantly rural area of the crucial battleground state.

In the days leading up to the highly anticipated presidential debate set for Tuesday, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have stepped up their discussions regarding economic plans. The debate is expected to feature strong contrasts between their proposals, which have been a hot topic in recent weeks.

During a Thursday event, Trump outlined his vision for what he dubbed a “national economic renaissance.” His approach includes raising tariffs, significantly reducing regulations to enhance energy production, cutting government spending, and slashing corporate taxes aimed at companies manufacturing in the U.S.

On the other side of the aisle, Harris has proposed her own economic strategy, advocating for increases in corporate tax rates, eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security income, and enhancing tax incentives for small businesses to encourage entrepreneurship.

Both candidates have been active in Wisconsin this year, a state historically pivotal in presidential elections. In fact, four of the past six presidential races in Wisconsin have been decided by margins less than a percentage point. Polls conducted after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race indicate a competitive contest between Harris and Trump.

Wisconsin is viewed by Democrats as essential for their Electoral College strategy, often referred to as part of the “blue wall.” Biden won the state in 2020 with a narrow margin of just under 21,000 votes after Trump secured it by approximately 23,000 votes in 2016.

Trump’s economic rally takes place in Mosinee, a city with a population of around 4,500. Located in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, a reliably Republican region within a state that can swing either way, Trump’s support has been strong in this area in past elections, having won the county by 18 percentage points during both the 2016 and 2020 elections.

In an effort to close the gap in urban votes, where Democrats typically see higher turnout, Republicans have focused on boosting their numbers in more rural areas like Mosinee. Trump’s strategy hinges on his ability to appeal to these communities to counteract Democratic voting strength in larger cities such as Milwaukee and Madison.

The significance of Wisconsin is underscored by the fact that Republicans held their national convention in Milwaukee in July of this year. Trump has made multiple visits to Wisconsin previously, including a rally in La Crosse just last week.

In contrast, Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, recently packed a Milwaukee arena for a rally coinciding with the Democratic National Convention, which took place 90 miles away in Chicago. Walz also returned to Milwaukee for a Labor Day rally organized by labor unions.

Adding to the dynamic political atmosphere, President Biden made a recent visit to rural western Wisconsin, marking his first trip to the state since announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race. During this visit, he announced a substantial investment of $7.3 billion allocated to 16 cooperatives that will provide electricity to rural communities across 23 states, aiming to reduce costs associated with essential internet services in remote areas.