NBC’s Welker: ‘Vice President’s Favorability Ratings Are Eroding ... Former President’s Favorability Rating Is Rising’

WELKER: “Here we are in the homestretch, and as we mentioned, a new CNBC poll shows a tight race between former President Trump and Vice President Harris in key battlegrounds, as well as nationally, with both results well within the margin of error. And it comes as the vice president’s favorability ratings are eroding. She’s now underwater by 10 points while the former president’s favorability rating is rising, although he also remains underwater. It also comes as voters say they prefer Mr. Trump on their top issue, the economy, and that they’d be better off financially under his leadership, not hers. Joining me now for more on that poll is CNBC senior economics Reporter Steve Liesman. Steve, it is great to see you. So let’s dig into the economic portion of all of this. As a whole, respondents are saying they don’t like the economy, but they like their present economic situation. What do these numbers tell you?”

LIESMAN: “Yeah, we’ve seen this before, Kristen, and great to be here. People kind of think the U.S. economy nationally is going to hell in a handbasket, but ask them how they’re doing and the numbers are quite a bit better. Now, the overall national numbers are a touch better, 26 percent see the economy is excellent and good — excellent and good. But more than 70 percent say it’s just fair or poor. Ask them about how they’re doing personally in the personal financial situation, 51 percent say fair or poor, 48 percent say excellent or good. So we — it’s, part of it is the narrative and part of it is something we’re going to talk about I think in a little bit, which is the inflation story.”