Shutdown Showdown: Who's Really Winning?

The current government shutdown is playing out differently than expected. Republicans initially thought they had a strong position, but things aren't going their way. Back in 2013, Republicans tried to defund Obamacare during a shutdown, but it didn't work out. Leaders like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner later admitted it was a bad move. This time, Democrats seem to have the upper hand. Polls show that more people blame Republicans for the shutdown. A Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 45% blamed President Trump and Republicans, while only 33% blamed Democrats. This trend has been steady since before the shutdown started. Democrats are pushing for an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which is popular with over 70% of Americans. Republicans, on the other hand, are struggling to find a clear path forward. The shutdown is affecting more people as time goes on, and it's becoming harder to see how it will end. Republicans have made some missteps. President Trump suggested ending the filibuster to stop the shutdown, which isn't practical and gives Democrats a talking point. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made some confusing comments about food stamps, saying that if people needed them so badly, it meant the system had failed. This didn't go over well, and Republicans had to clarify her remarks. The shutdown might actually be helping Democrats. A Quinnipiac University poll showed that 58% of Democratic voters now approve of their party's performance in Congress. This is a big jump from earlier in the year when approval was around 40%. Democrats might see this as a chance to gain more support and push for their priorities. Democrats have good reasons to keep pushing. If they give up now, they might lose the support they've gained. A Pew Research Center poll found that many Democrats are frustrated because they feel the party isn't fighting hard enough against the Trump administration. Democrats might think that the shutdown could help them achieve more than just a moral victory.