Subject: Re: Inflation down to 3.2%, gas prices below $3
If Democrats don't get their head on straight and recognize that there's a lot about the economy that voters legitimately don't like, instead of always asking why Biden isn't getting more credit for how awesome the economy is doing, they're going to get spanked in 2024.

As you pointed out, the POTUS doesn't control a lot of this. Rents? Gas prices? Nope. He may have influence over job creation and a few things, but even those things he doesn't really control. Congress probably has more influence since they control the purse strings, and approve (or not) various programs that can be stimulative (or not).

If we were to credit/blame Biden, I would point out that inflation is down...big time. Is it the lowest it's been this century? Nope. But it's lower than it was during COVID, which was a major disruptive event that is having far-reaching consequences (e.g. the workplace, and "work from home"). Again, the POTUS didn't control that, and arguably, neither can Congress. Stuff happens that we can only react to. I blamed Trump for his anemic reaction to the pandemic, but not really for the subsequent inflation (or increased jobless rate). I'm not sure Obama, or anyone else, could have had a better economic outcome from COVID.**

Of course, I realize that the reality is that voters blame the economy on the current POTUS. Not even Congress. The POTUS. Dems probably have to emphasize that things are much better than during COVID, but we still have more work to do. It's honest, and sort of accurate (i.e. the POTUS still doesn't control a lot of this stuff).



**Though I do blame him for the tax-cuts-for-the-rich. That hasn't helped our country at all.