CNN Data Chief Names The 1 Way Dems Look Like A ‘Complete And Utter Mess’ Ahead Of 2028

“It is a complete and utter mess,” said Enten, in a segment with CNN’s Kate Bolduan.

Enten noted that no possible Democratic presidential candidates are polling at 25% or higher in early national polling on the 2028 election. It’s the first time such a scenario has occurred since the 1992 presidential election.

Since then, Al Gore (2000/2004), Hillary Clinton (2008/2016) and Joe Biden (2020) all led by 25% or higher in early polling ahead of presidential elections where an incumbent Democrat didn’t run.

“The water is quite warm. If you’re a Democrat potentially thinking about running in 2028, jump right in because at this point there is no frontrunner,” Enten said.

“One of the reasons why there is no frontrunner — nobody wants to put anybody up at the top of their ballot list — is because at this particular point, the Democratic brand is in the basement,” he said. “It is total and complete garbage in the mind of the American public.”

In July, the party’s net favorable rating (percent in favor minus percent not in favor) was -26 in both Gallup and CNN polling, while the figure dropped to -30 in The Wall Street Journal’s polling.

All three of those figures are record lows and, Enten argued, the numbers are mainly being driven by “discontent within the Democratic base.”

“The Democratic base wants something different. We’ll ultimately end up seeing who they choose. It will be quite the thing, who ultimately gets the rose,” he said.

The segment arrives after former Vice President Kamala Harris, in an interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Thursday, explained her decision not to run for governor of California while also leaving open the possibility of a 2028 presidential bid.

Enten noted that Harris had just a 6% chance of being the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee on Thursday, per the Kalshi prediction market.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has the highest chance on the platform at 20% while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have a 15% and 9% chance, respectively.