CNN Data Guru Breaks Down ‘Rising Tide of Support’ for Newsom: Feud With Trump Is ‘Working’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) taking the fight to President Donald Trump is “working,” CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said Friday.

In recent days, Newsom’s social media presence underwent a radical shift when he decided to copy the president’s rhetoric. The governor’s new posts include phrases the president frequently says, as well as a heavy use of all-caps typing and derogatory nicknames for other prominent conservative figures.

Looking at polling data from Newsom’s state, Enten explained to CNN’s Kate Bolduan how the strategy has given the governor a significant boost in popularity:

I absolutely think it’s showing signs of working; and let’s take a look at the voters who know Gavin Newsom best — those voters out in California, those California Democrats. California Democrats on Newsom for [president]. You go back to 2023, just 35% wanted him to run for president. Look at the percentage now who are excited for a run for president for Gavin Newsom. What is that? That’s a 40-point climb, my goodness gracious! A rising tide of support for Gavin Newsom.

Remember, back in 2023, the majority of Democrats did not want Joe Biden to run for another term; but California Democrats in Gavin Newsom’s home state did not want him to run, either. And now, 75% are excited for him to run; and more than that, he’s getting a higher percentage of the vote than Kamala Harris in her home state. He is beating the former vice president — who, of course, was the Democratic nominee in 2024. As I said, a rising tide of support for the California governor.

Although the next presidential election is still more than three years away, Enten broke down why the early polls were a promising sign for Newsom should he decide to run:

It’s one of those benchmarks, the home state polling for presidential candidates. If they can’t win the primary in their home state, they ain’t going to win anywhere. What are we talking about? [Presidential] nominees in home state primaries. All of them won. All the nominees won, and all of them led in the early polls. So yes, winning California is not tantamount to winning the nomination; but it is one of those stepping stones that you have to make it to if you, in fact, want to win the nomination, historically. And of course, in California, it has the most delegates out of any of the states that of course take part in the Democratic primary.

Watch above via CNN