CNN's Harry Enten Explodes Over Brutal Poll for Democrats

You could see the disbelief on his face. You could hear it in his voice.

When CNN's senior data whiz Harry Enten unveiled new polling data this week showing Republicans now leading Democrats by a staggering 12 points on who Americans trust more with the economy, he didn't hold back.

"Are you kidding me!?" he exclaimed live on air, according to the New York Post.

He rattled off a laundry list of reasons why, by all logic, this shouldn't be happening. Stock market swings, recession jitters, Trump's chaotic tariff policies — all of it should've cut into GOP credibility. But they didn't. If anything, Republicans widened their lead.

The Party of the People? Not Anymore

Once considered the champions of working Americans, Democrats are now deadlocked, or worse, on nearly every key measure of economic trust.

In CNN's latest poll, voters split evenly on a question that would've been unthinkable a decade ago — which party best represents the middle class? In 1989, Democrats held a 23-point edge on that same question. Today? It's a tie.

According to Enten, the most jaw-dropping shift came from the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which showed Republicans gaining a 12-point advantage on the economy in 2025, up from 9 points the year before Trump was reelected.

And if that wasn't bad enough for Democrats, Enten pointed to what he called, "one of the most shocking pieces of poll data that I truly — truthfully — have seen this year or maybe in any prior year," according to the Daily Wire.

The GOP is now even with Democrats on the question of which party "cares more about people like you."

That's not just a loss of momentum. That's a loss of identity.

Internal Critics and the Culture Gap

Enten isn't alone in his concern. CNN colleague Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist and frequent commentator, offered a sobering assessment. He argued that the numbers reflect not just economic perceptions but also deeper cultural alienation.

Jennings has said Democrats are out of touch with ordinary Americans, and that the party's messaging too often centers on cultural issues at the expense of economic ones.

This isn't just a poll slump. It's an identity crisis. And the voters are noticing.

Trump's Tariffs? Still a GOP Win

Enten's reaction might seem overblown if you weren't watching the same economy. Donald Trump's second term has been marked by a string of economic headlines that, on the surface, don't exactly scream prosperity.

Reciprocal tariffs, especially on Chinese goods, rattled global markets this spring. Yet, as Trump's administration dials up pressure on foreign trade, key domestic metrics are somehow holding firm.

Inflation is now down to 2.3%, its lowest point since 2021. The S&P 500 just had its best May in over three decades. Job growth remains strong, with over 170,000 jobs added in April and unemployment hovering at a low 4.2%, USA TODAY reported.

So, while economists debate the long-term effects of Trump's trade policies, voters — especially middle-class voters — seem to have made up their minds. The pain they felt under previous inflation spikes during the Biden years hasn't faded, and they're crediting the GOP for a sense of control.

Can Democrats Reclaim the Middle?

Enten's astonishment wasn't just statistical. It was symbolic.

For decades, Democrats leaned into their role as defenders of the working class. But as cost-of-living crises deepened and cultural battles intensified, the party lost its footing.

The polling data paints a clear picture that Americans aren't just disappointed in Democratic economic messaging. They're abandoning the brand entirely.

And for a party heading into the 2026 midterms with control of the House up for grabs, that's not just a problem — it's an alarm bell.

References: Democratic Party's Horrendous Polling Leaves CNN Data Guru in Disbelief: 'Are You Kidding Me?' | 'Are You Kidding Me?': CNN's Harry Enten Gobsmacked That GOP Trouncing Dems On Economy | 'A Shocker For Me': CNN Pollster Shares the Key Metric That Blew His Mind | Guess Who Americans Want to Run the Economy? Hint: It's Not Democrats | Opinion