CNN’s Harry Enten slams 'clown car' of Democrats eyeing 2028 presidential polls: 'Total mess'
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: CNN data analyst Harry Enten offered a blunt assessment of the early 2028 Democratic presidential landscape on Tuesday, February 24, describing the current field of potential contenders as a “clown car”.
The exchange aired as California Gov Gavin Newsom re-entered the national spotlight with a new book release and growing speculation about a White House bid.
Re: Newsom... It's a downright clown car/mess for the Dems ahead of 2028...
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) February 24, 2026
No one is close to clearing 25% in early national polling for the first since the 1992 cycle.
Newsom is flailing a bit after a hot summer, as interest in him on Google is down over 60% from August. pic.twitter.com/9bKkgehULQ
Harry Enten criticizes Democrat frontrunners for President
When asked what early trends show, Enten did not mince words.
“Yeah, they're all running. And this is just a downright clown car at this point on the Democratic side,” he said.
Citing early preference numbers, Enten noted that Newsom currently sits at 19%, narrowly ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris at 18%.
Pete Buttigieg follows at 13%, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez registers 12%.
“You have a leader, but it's not really a clear leader. It's within the margin of error,” Enten said.
“This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess. There is no clear frontrunner at this particular point on the Democratic side. Who the heck knows who the nominee is going to be in two years?”
Enten cites historical rarity
Enten emphasized that the lack of a dominant early favorite is historically rare for Democrats.
“This is very unusual for the Democratic side to not have a clear frontrunner at this point,” he explained, noting that in recent cycles there was typically a candidate polling at or above 25% early on.
He pointed to Joe Biden leading early in 2020, Hillary Clinton in both 2008 and 2016, and Al Gore in 2000 and 2004.
“You have to go all the way back to 1992,” Enten said, “That was the last cycle in which there was no clear frontrunner at this point.”
Gavin Newsom's numbers slipping
The segment also examined Newsom’s perceived momentum.
“Newsom is the 2028 Democrat nominee, three months ago it was a 37% chance,” Enten said, referencing prediction market data.
“Now, it's just a 28%. Down he goes. He's definitely flailing a little bit.”
Enten added that public interest appears to be cooling.
“Google searches for Gavin Newsom are down 63% from the August peak,” he said, recalling that the spike occurred when Newsom was publicly sparring online with Donald Trump.
“Maybe that interest is waning off just a little bit,” Enten concluded, while acknowledging that the 2028 race remains years away and far from settled.
