Presidential campaigns often use the backdrop of small businesses (record stores, restaurants, auto shops) to emphasize the authenticity and local values of their candidates. But this election cycle has taken those companies a little more seriously.
In speeches and advertisementsVice President Kamala Harris has tried to infuse entrepreneurship into her brand: an avowed capitalist, but for the little guys. His economic policy platform mentions “small businesses” 77 times, including a section aimed at addressing the needs of owners, such as easing licensing requirements and funneling more federal contracts to them.
It’s not hard to see why a candidate might lean toward Main Street: Small businesses are collectively the most respected institution in American life, according to research by Gallup and Pew. Harris’ messages could also help counter former President Donald J. Trump’s reputation as a successful business owner, who continues to bolster his economic credentials among voters despite his many bankruptcies and sometimes fraudulent practices.
Harris’ focus on small businesses isn’t entirely new. She also addressed the issue as vice president, visiting companies to deliver billions of dollars in loans funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. She often talks about her “second mother,” Regina Shelton, who ran a daycare in Berkeley, California, as a small business owner and integral part of the community.
“Kamala’s economic plans are designed to help people like Ms. Shelton so they have enough in the bank to start a business or pass down something to their children,” said Felicia Wong, who runs Roosevelt Forward, a progressive advocacy group. .