CNN Data Chief: Democrats Put Kamala Harris On the 'Back Burner' as 2028 Talk Heats Up

Democrats are reassessing Kamala Harris as she campaigns for 2024 and promotes her memoir, '107 Days,' with CNN data chief Harry Enten arguing the vice president has lost steam among the party. In a segment with CNN's Sara Sidner, Enten warned that Harris may not be the strongest messenger against former President Donald Trump: "If you want a messenger to go against Donald Trump, you could do far better as Democrats than Kamala Harris."

Enten cited shifts in Harris' public standing, noting her net favorable rating has fallen from minus 5 in October 2024 to minus 13 this month, and that independents' view sits at minus 37, based on Fox News polling summarized by HuffPost. He emphasized that head-to-head positioning with independents is critical to winning the presidency. The same data lens has early 2028 polling showing Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents placing Harris on the 'back burner' in recent months. In April, 28% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents named Harris as their top 2028 nominee; that has dropped to 19% this month, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom rose from 8% to 21%. Harris has repeatedly signaled that 2028 is not a focus, telling Maddow she doesn't intend to make it her central task right now.

Context from California voters provides another layer: Harris carried 58% of California's vote in 2024, but a Politico poll from August suggested 42% of California voters would be excited if she ran for president again, implying the state's enthusiasm has not coalesced around a Harris bid. The combination of diminished statewide support and eroding enthusiasm among the party's base feeds into questions about how the 2028 field might evolve should Harris remain on the 'back burner.'

Analysts note the dynamics come as the Democratic bench weighs potential contenders and the party seeks to balance mobilizing independents with maintaining enthusiasm among progressives. The HuffPost piece frames Harris’s standing as contingent on how the party articulates its case against Trump and how other figures perform in early debates and contests.

Ultimately, the discussion underscores how internal party sentiment, statewide results, and independent voters’ openness will influence the early trajectory of the 2028 race, even as Harris repeatedly defers a decision on a bid.