JD Vance and Tim Walz gather in Arizona as early voting begins in the state

Bernd Debusmann Jr
US reporter

image source, Getty Images

Last week I traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, where both parties focused their messaging on “pocketback” issues to win voters in the notoriously purple state.

Kamala Harris will be in the state tomorrow, part of a push into the Sunbelt states that includes Arizona, where JD Vance and Tim Walz are campaigning today.

While Nevada unemployment has recovered from a pandemic-era high of 30%, Nevada unemployment was still at 5.5% in August – the highest in the U.S. In Las Vegas, the figure was around 6.7% the previous month.

In dozens of interviews over the course of a week, residents told the BBC almost unanimously that economic problems – particularly inflation and high house prices – were their most pressing issues before they go to the polls in November.

Both the Republican and Democratic parties are well aware of this trend.

“Nevada residents are focused on the issues closest to their hearts – kitchen issues like rising costs, stagnant wages and affordable housing,” Nevada Republican Chairman Michael McDonald said in a statement. “When we ask ourselves whether we are better off than we were four years ago, the answer for most of us is no.”

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro said she believes “too many Americans are struggling with high prices” – and believes Kamala Harris' message to lower prices and go after companies that “take advantage of consumers.” will resonate with many Nevadans.

“On the other hand, Nevada voters know that former President Trump has no plans to lower their health care or housing costs, passed a bill that gives handouts to the super-rich and is notoriously anti-organized labor,” she said. “Coming to the table with concrete solutions makes all the difference for hard-working families in Nevada.”