CNN’s chief data analyst warned that Democrats may be squandering a political opening, even as President Trump’s approval ratings sink to historic lows.

Harry Enten, appearing on CNN News Central, was asked by anchor John Berman whether Democrats were capitalizing on widespread public frustration over rising costs. A CNN poll showed 77% of Americans blame Trump for higher costs of living. Enten’s answer was a cold dose of realism for the party.

“I think this poll serves as a big time reality check for Democrats, and that is it ain’t over yet, especially with the redistricting when we look ahead to the 2026 race for Congress,” Enten said. “You would have thought that the Democrats’ lead would expand on the generic congressional ballot. It didn’t happen.”

Aggregate polling shows Democrats’ advantage on the generic congressional ballot has actually narrowed, dropping from plus-six points in March of last year to plus-three points now. Enten argued the numbers should be far stronger given the political environment, particularly following Trump’s decision to strike Iran.

“It is within the margin of error. So, despite all of the talk about Donald Trump’s unpopularity, the fact is, Republicans very much remain in the game when it comes to the congressional midterms,” Enten said.

When Berman pressed him on why Democrats aren’t gaining more ground, Enten pointed to the party’s own dismal approval numbers. Trump sits 36 points underwater on average in approval ratings, but Democrats are matching that unpopularity in their own survey numbers.

“Just because Donald Trump is unpopular doesn’t make Democrats popular. And when you match Democrats against Republicans, all of a sudden it is a dead heat,” Enten said. On the economy specifically, he noted that registered voters trust both parties equally. “Which party is trusted more on the economy? It’s a tie among registered voters.”

The takeaway, Enten argued, is that a toxic incumbent does not automatically translate into a winning opposition. With redistricting complicating the 2026 map and Democratic approval ratings failing to climb, Republicans have more reason for optimism than the national mood might suggest.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)