CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten delivered a blunt assessment of the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential bench this week, calling the early field “a total clown car” and warning that there is no clear frontrunner emerging.
Enten joined CNN anchor John Berman on Tuesday as speculation grows over potential 2028 contenders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose new memoir just hit shelves.
His verdict on Newsom was far from encouraging.
“Downright Clown Car”
“Yeah, they’re all running, and this is just a downright clown car at this point on the Democratic side,” Enten said.
Citing early polling data, Enten noted that Newsom sits at 19%, barely ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris at 18%.
It’s a margin slim enough to fall within the survey’s margin of error.
“Quite a weak number for [Harris], given that, of course, she was the nominee last time around,” Enten said.
Other potential contenders are polling even lower.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg registers at 13%, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) trails at 12%.
“This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess,” Enten continued.
“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?”
He emphasized how unusual the situation is historically.
“It has been a long time, this is very unusual for the Democratic side to not have a clear frontrunner at this point,” he said.
“You have to go all the way back, all the way back from when I wasn’t even in elementary school yet, not even in pre-K yet, to 1992, that was the last cycle in which there was no clear frontrunner at this point. Very unusual.”
Newsom “Flailing”
Enten singled out Newsom as particularly vulnerable despite being widely viewed as a likely 2028 contender.
“It seems to me that Gavin Newsom is flailing a little bit, at least compared to where he was prior,” Enten said.
He pointed to prediction markets as further evidence of Newsom’s slipping momentum.
“Three months ago, according to the prediction market, look at that, it was a 37% chance, now it’s just at 28%,” Enten added.
“Down he goes. He’s definitely flailing a little bit.”
WATCH:
CNN's Harry Enten just ROASTED Gavin Newsom's 2028 ambitions "He's definitely flailing":
"This is just a downright clown car at this point on the Democratic side."
"This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess. There is no clear front-runner at this particular point on… pic.twitter.com/TYijTMGKWt
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) February 24, 2026
With no dominant candidate, no unified message, and polling that shows a fragmented field, Enten’s analysis underscores a Democratic Party heading toward 2028 without a clear standard-bearer.
It’s a stark contrast to previous cycles, where early frontrunners typically emerged well in advance of the primaries.
READ MORE – Gavin Newsom Says He Can Relate to Black People Because He ‘Can’t Read’
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