Where the Republican presidential candidates stand on the economy

The classic campaign catch-phrase — "It's the economy, stupid" — coined by a Democratic strategist working on Bill Clinton's 1992 successful presidential campaign, is still extolled as political gospel.

For years, the assumption has been that if a candidate wins the debate on the economy, he (or she) will ultimately win the election. And while, according to polls, the economy continues to be the most important issue for many voters, Americans increasingly view the economy through a partisan lens.

Most Republican voters believe Democratic politicians are bad for the economy. And that's the main message you're hearing from the 2024 GOP presidential field. Republican candidates are calling for cuts to federal spending and promising to slash taxes while also loosening government regulation. They're also specifically attacking subsidies for clean energy that were prioritized by the current Democratic administration.

They blame President Biden for a weak economy, even though many economists rightfully point out that a number of economic indicators are strong: wages are growing, consumer confidence is increasing, and unemployment has remained low