Sen. Joe Manchin touted his agreement with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on a reconciliation package as legislation that can halt inflation and help climate change, but it may not be enough to help Democrats facing historic headwinds just over three months before the midterm elections, according to Hillary Clinton's former chief strategist.

"I think it's not a sure thing yet," Mark Penn, former chief strategist for Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, told Fox News Digital. "I don't think it will affect the midterms one way or the other — midterms being driven by inflation not congressional action." 

Voters view inflation and the economy as the crucial election issues, multiple polls have shown, trumping gun violence and crime, abortion and immigration, and a June Fox News poll shows most Americans trust the GOP to handle inflation more than Democrats.

Manchin announced he had reached an agreement with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Wednesday evening on an economic bill that, if passed, would both move the Build Back Better agenda forward and also "address record inflation by paying down our national debt, lowering energy costs and lowering healthcare costs." 

Democrats running in tight races have pushed the Biden administration to take more steps to fight inflation, and the president urged Congress earlier this month to move quickly on an economic bill before the August recess — a critical time for members of Congress to campaign during election years.

"Families all over the nation will sleep easier if Congress takes this action. The Senate should move forward, pass it before the August recess, and get it to my desk so I can sign it," Biden said in a White House statement released July 15.