Why Justin Trudeau and Kamala Harris face similar troubles with voters

The economy has been key to Trump’s appeal with US voters. “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” the former president asks.

It’s also the biggest headache for Trudeau north of the border, where inflation and higher house and rent prices in particular have been a major problem.

Almost half of Canadians say rising costs have made it hard for them to meet their day-to-day expenses. In the US, more than a third of families say they now struggle to pay for necessities.

Economists point to a range of factors for the painful price spikes of the last few years, including global forces from the war in Ukraine and Covid-snarled supply chains.

But it’s the party in power that tends to get the blame.

Inflation has recently cooled in both countries. US growth has been strong and Canada has begun to make significant interest rate cuts after a series of hikes (the unemployment rate is significantly higher in Canada at 6.5% compared to 4.1% in the US).

Mr Bricker said how voters feel about their own quality of life matters more than the headline figures about the state of the national economy.

“It’s really people feeling like everything is getting more expensive and they’re not able to keep up with whatever that cost of living is.”

Like Trump, Canada’s Conservative leader has been quick to pounce.

As early as 2021, Pierre Poilievre was sinking his teeth into the Liberals over the pain felt by Canadian families over the economy – promising to “axe the [carbon] tax” – Trudeau’s signature climate policy that he says is driving up household energy costs – and to “build the homes” and “fix the budget”.

He hasn’t let go, making the issue a core part of his platform. The latest federal opinion polls give his Conservatives about a 20-point lead over the Liberals.