CNN’s Harry Enten Clarifies Key Insight on Government Shutdown
Harry Enten, CNN’s chief data analyst, provided insights on the implications of the recent U.S. government shutdown. He discussed how the Democrats managed to turn this challenging situation into a political advantage despite facing criticism over healthcare subsidy extensions.
Impact of the Government Shutdown
After the shutdown concluded, President Donald Trump experienced a significant drop in his net approval rating. According to Enten, it fell to -15 points, marking a decrease of 5 points from his pre-shutdown levels. This rating is now the lowest seen during his second term.
Trump’s Approval Ratings
- Current net approval rating: -15 points
- Drop from pre-shutdown: -5 points
- Lowest rating in Trump’s second term
Enten noted that while Trump’s ratings initially remained stable during the shutdown, they eventually declined, indicating a shift in public sentiment.
Democrats’ Performance Post-Shutdown
On the other hand, Enten discussed how the Democratic Party fared after the shutdown ended. Polling data revealed that Democrats hold a +5 point lead on a generic congressional ballot, showing a 2-point increase since before the shutdown.
Poll Insights
- Democratic lead on congressional ballot: +5 points
- Increase from pre-shutdown: +2 points
Enten emphasized that this trend reflects the Democrats outperforming expectations in key races for the upcoming midterm elections. He pointed out that if Democrats maintain this momentum alongside Trump’s declining approval, they could see significant electoral gains.
Conclusion
In summary, the government shutdown appears to have favored the Democrats, with tangible improvements in public opinion. As captured by Enten’s analysis, if they continue on this trajectory, it bodes well for their success in the forthcoming midterms.
