Former President Donald Trump delivered a 75-minute speech at a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, which was billed as a significant economic address. However, Trump's speech was characterized by tangents and personal attacks on Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, diverting attention away from his policy proposals.

During the rally, Trump veered off-script multiple times, discussing various topics such as wind energy, Joe Biden's son, and Harris' laugh. Despite outlining broad policy ideas and ambitious promises to boost the economy and lower energy prices, Trump struggled to maintain a focused message.

One of Trump's major grievances was the Democrats' decision to replace Biden with Harris as the presidential nominee. He took the opportunity to denigrate Harris' hometown of San Francisco, describing it as "unlivable." Trump also made personal attacks on Harris, questioning her intelligence and criticizing her laugh.

While briefly discussing policy matters, Trump vowed to eliminate "job-killing regulations," undo Biden-era restrictions on fossil fuel production, combat inflation within the first year of a potential second term, and eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits and tipped income. He also promised to achieve economic growth that would eliminate the national debt.

However, Trump's promises were often overshadowed by his digressions and attacks. He attempted to connect his emphasis on border and immigration policy to the economy, claiming that the influx of immigrants would strain Social Security and Medicare. Trump also criticized the use of taxpayer money to house migrants in cities, including New York.

The rally took place at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, with a backdrop of American flags and slogans emphasizing Trump's policy goals. However, his scattered arguments and attacks on Harris revealed the challenge of effectively refocusing his campaign on the economy.

A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that while Americans are more likely to trust Trump over Harris regarding the economy, the margin is slight. Trump had 45% support compared to Harris' 38%.

Some attendees of the rally expressed their desire for Trump to provide more specific plans and expand his appeal to voters. They believe that he needs to focus more on the issues and explain how he would deliver on his promises, highlighting his accomplishments during his first term.

Trump's speech coincided with new data from the Labor Department, indicating that year-over-year inflation reached its lowest level in over three years in July. This may provide some relief for Harris, who plans to release further details of her middle-class building initiative during her visit to North Carolina.

As Trump struggles to maintain a cohesive message and maintain his economic focus, questions arise about his ability to effectively challenge Harris in an area traditionally considered a weakness for Democrats. The battleground state of North Carolina, where Trump marginally won in 2016, is expected to be a key state in the 2024 election.

Despite Trump's attempts to reset his campaign by addressing economic concerns, his speech highlighted the difficulty of staying on message and elevating policy discussions over personal attacks. As the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether Trump can effectively regain momentum and sway voters with his economic vision.