CNN analyst: Public opinion has shifted amid shutdown — but not for the party you'd expect



Nearing the one-month mark, the government shutdown has caused increased anxiety as Republicans stand fast against Democrat demands. However, new polling shows some surprising shifts in public opinion.

Explaining the results of new polls from AP-NORC and Quinnipiac, CNN data analyst Harry Enten demonstrated that Republicans have little to no reason to "give in" in this battle in the Senate.

'This is, in fact, the worst position Democrats have been on a generic ballot at this point in a midterm when there was a Republican president in the last 20 years.'

To begin, Enten showed that the Republican brand in general gained two points in popularity: "That’s within the margin of error, but clearly it hasn’t dropped."

Approval for congressional Republicans has also increased by five points since the shutdown began, according to Enten's analysis.

RELATED: Mike Johnson calls out Schumer for continuing government shutdown

Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

"You might think, given that the Republicans are in charge of both the House and the Senate, that a government shutdown might actually hurt the Republican brand — but in fact, it hasn’t."

Enten demonstrated that the shutdown has not only significantly rallied the Republican base — it has also done well with independents.

"Something could rally the base but alienate those in the middle — or something could rally those in the middle but alienate the base. But the truth is, we’re not seeing that. What we’re seeing is that the Republican brand has actually gotten better among independents, and it’s also gotten better among Republicans as well."

Enten also showed that Democrats are in a "considerably worse" position ahead of the 2026 midterms. While still ahead of Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, Democrats are up only three points now, compared to +11 points at this point in 2017, a year before the 2018 midterms.

"This is, in fact, the worst position Democrats have been on a generic ballot at this point in a midterm when there was a Republican president in the last 20 years."

"So again, what’s the electoral reason that Republicans would give in at this point?" Enten repeated.

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New Poll Overlooks Americans’ Ignorance Of IVF To Overstate ‘Majority’ Support For It

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-12-at-9.45.42 AM-e1720795589402-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-12-at-9.45.42%5Cu202fAM-e1720795589402-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]The real question pollsters should ask is not ‘Do a majority of Americans support IVF?’ but ‘Do a majority of Americans understand it?’

Less than half of Democrats want Biden to run in 2024: Poll



Significantly less than half of Democrats want President Joe Biden on the ballot in 2024, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.

A paltry 37% of Democrats would like the president seek election in 2024. Among Democrats 18-44, that number is much lower at just 23%, while the figure is 49% among Democrats 45 and up.

The poll of adults nationwide found that overall, only 22% of adults hope to see Biden mount a reelection bid.

Biden, who is the oldest president in history, would be 86 by the end of a second term.

"I, honestly, think that he would be too old," 37-year-old Democrat Sarah Overman said, according to the Associated Press. "We could use someone younger in the office."

"I believe he's not the one who's calling the shots," Republican John Rodriguez, 76, said, according to the outlet. "He's a puppet being told where to go, what to say."

Vikram Joglekar, 46, supported Biden in 2020 but described the president's time in office as "meh," according to the AP. "It's not up for me to decide whether someone should run or not," Joglekar said. "I don't know who is going to be on the ballot, but I would hope it would be someone better from his party."

"He seems to be in pretty good condition in my opinion and that's coming from a 76-year-old woman," Democrat Linda Lockwood said, according to the AP. "You might be a little more careful going down the steps as you get older, but if your brain is still working, that’s the important part."

Former President Donald Trump announced last year that he is running for election again — he will likely face GOP primary challengers as he seeks to clinch the Republican presidential nomination. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is reportedly planning to announce a White House bid this month.

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How low can he go? President Joe Biden's job approval rating sinks to new depths in AP-NORC polling



President Joe Biden is facing the worst job approval rating of his tenure in Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polling.

A recently conducted survey of adults found that that 39% approve of how Biden his handling his role, while a whopping 60% disapprove. The poll indicates that 12% strongly approve, 26% somewhat approve, 1% lean in the direction of approving, 39% strongly disapprove, 21% somewhat disapprove, and 1% lean in the direction of disapproving.

An AP-NORC poll conducted in April found that 45% approved versus 54% who disapproved. A poll in March found that 43% approved compared to 56% who disapproved.

Biden continues to face dismal rankings on his handling of the economy. Just 33% approve of how Biden is dealing with the economy, while a massive 67% disapprove, according to the recent survey. The April poll similarly found 33% approval versus 66% disapproval.

Biden has long been underwater on his job approval numbers in various polls.

Americans have been getting soaked by soaring inflation that is destroying the purchasing power of their money.

"The all items index increased 8.3 percent for the 12 months ending April, a smaller increase than the 8.5-percent figure for the period ending in March," the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted in a consumer price index report released earlier this month.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas is $4.593 as of Friday, according to AAA.

The recent AP-NORC poll found that 56% think that high fuel prices are more the result of issues beyond the president's control, while 44% think the high prices are more due to the president's policies — a poll in March found almost the same numbers, with 55% indicating that the high prices were more due to conditions beyond Biden's control and 44% indicating that the prices were more due to Biden's policies.

"I feel like the stimulus checks came out and that was the last win of his administration," Democrat Milan Ramsey said about the president, according to the Associated Press. "I think he's tired — and I don’t blame him, I’d be tired too at his age with the career he’s had."